JOSEPH 

ANDHISBRETHREN 




Class _P:E-a^i 
Book .T^g JTg -— 



Copyright l^"*. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 



BY LOUIS N. PARKER 



POMANDER WALK. Novel- 
ized from the Play. With illustra- 
tions by J. Scott Williams. Sq, 8vo. 
$1.30 net. Postage 12 cents 

DISRAELI. A Play. Illustrated 

from photographs. 12mo. 

$1.00 net. Postage 10 cents 



JOHN LANE COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK 



>£S 





^S. 



JOSEPH 

From a Drawing by Dorothy Parker 



JOSEPH AND HIS 
BRETHREN 



A PAGEANT PLAY 



»Y .}' 



LOUIS N. PARKER 

Author of "Pomander Walk," "Disraeli," "Drake," etc. 



ILLUSTRATED 



NEW YORK 

JOHN LANE COMPANY 

MCMXIII 



TsJl 



COPTBIGHT, 1913, BT 

JOHN LANE COMPANY 



J. J. Little & Ives Co., New York, U. S. A. 



To Henry Rowland Brown 
Guide, Philosopher, and Friend 



NOTE 

The term Pageant Play, which is new, may require a 
word of explanation. A Pageant Play, as I conceive it, 
is a play written on the same principles as my Eng- 
lish Pageants. In those the towns in which they took 
place were the heroes. In my Pageant Plays the hero 
is some outstanding figure: Drake — Joseph. As in my 
pageants I told the entire history of the town, so in 
these plays I attempt to tell the entire history of the 
man. The so-called unities of time and place are there- 
fore of no consideration; but are replaced by a much 
more important unity: the unity of idea. I should like 
to add that under no circumstances is what is commonly, 
but wrongly, understood as pageantry introduced for its 
own sake; nor scenery either. There is, for instance, 
no unnecessary display of scenery in "Joseph," any 
more than there is in "Drake." On the contrary, the 
scenery in both plays is of the simplest nature, or the 
play could not be represented. It happens, however, 
to be extraordinarily well painted. Joseph and His 
Brethren was first performed under the management 
of Messrs. Liebler & Co. at the Century Theatre, New 
York, on Saturday, January 11, 1913. 

I reprint the programme of the first performance 
because I am very grateful to this large body of artists, 
and because I hope they will be glad to have a permanent 
record of what was, to us, a memorable occasion. 

Louis N. Parker. 



CHARACTERS 



CANAANITES 



Sons of Leah. 



.■i 



Sons of Bilhah 



Jacob 

Reuben- 

Simeon 

Levi 

Judah 

Dan . 

Naphtali 

Asher* ' [SonsofZilpah 
Zerulu^\ [Later Sons of Leah] 
BtnTaminiSo^^^^^^^^^l 



James O'Neill 
Harvey Braban 
Howard Kyle 
Frank Woolfe 
Emmet King 
Charles Macdonald 
James O'Neill, Jr. 
Leslie Palmer 
Franklyn Pangborn 

F. WiLMOT 

Edwin Cushman 
Brandon Tynan 
Sidney D. Carlyle 



1st Slave ....... Harry Melick 

2d Slave Harold Rowe 

3d Slave Malcolm Morley 

First Camel Driver .... Ernest Milton 

Rachel Olive Oliver 

Bilhah Madeline Traverse 

Zilpah Harriet Ross 

Serah, Daughter of Asher . Irma Lerna 

First Water Bearer . . . Violet Romer 

Water Bearers, Attendants, Musicians, Camel Drivers, 
Nubian Slaves, Children, etc., etc. 



CHARACTERS 



EGYPTIANS 



Pharaoh (Usertesen) . . . James O'Neill 

Potiphar, Captain of Pharaoh's 
Army Frank Losee 

Imhotep, Chief Butler to Pha- 
raoh Frank Woolfe 

Serseru^ Chief Baker to Pha- 
raoh Horace James 



Officers in Potiphar's 
household 



Franklyn Pangborn 
Harry Melick 
Pedro de Cordoba 
Jas. K. Whitmore 
W. T. Carleton 
Douglas Ross 
^ Bennet Kilpack 
Charles Macdonald 
James O'Neill, Jr. 

F. WiLMOT 



Ranofer, Lord Treasurer 

Dedefre, a Noble . . 

Heru 

Ani 

Tehuti 

Sebni 

Atha 

Menthu, High Priest of Neith 

Ansu, the Chief Magician . 

Iri, the Chief Soothsayer . . 

First Physician Edwin Cushman 

Second Physician .... Malcolm Morley 
Pesbes, the Court Dwarf . . Charles Rogers 
Enenkhet, Captain of the Prison, Charles Herman 
afterwards Steward to Joseph 

An Officer James Vorn 

A Soldier Harold Rowe 

Zuleika Pauline Frederick 

Asenath, Daughter to Menthu Lily Cahill 
Wakara, Tiring-woman to 

Zuleika Jane Ferrell 

Tamai, Chief Maid-in-waiting 

to Zuleika Dorothy Parker 



CHARACTERS 



Maids-in-waiting to 
Zuleika 



Mehtu 

Anset 

Arilennu 

Taherer 

Nesta 

Khenen | Noble Ladies 



' Edith Creel Spofpard 
Patricia O'Connor 
Irma Lerna 
Miriam Collins 
Frances Wright 

{Madeline Traverse 
Harriet Ross 



A Dancer Violet Romer 

Nobles, Warriors, Priests, Soothsayers, Magicians, 
Ladies, Dancers, Slaves, etc., etc. 

The Incidental Music Composed by Arthur Farwell. 
The Scenery Designed by Gates and Morange. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



FACING 

PAGE 



JOSEPH Frontispiece 

JACOB 10 

THE BROTHERS ATTACKING JOSEPH ... 24 

JOSEPH IS SOLD INTO BONDAGE .... 32 

ZULEIKA 56 

JOSEPH AND ZULEIKA 80 

IN THE COURT OF PHARAOH 104 

SIMEON . 120 



ACT I 

THE TENTS OF SHECHEM 
Genesis XXXV; XXXVII 



PERSONS 


Jacob 


Gad 


Reuben 


Asher 


Simeon 


Joseph 


Levi 


1st Slave 


Judah 


2d Slave 


Issaehar 


3d Slave 


Zebulun 


Rachel 


Dan 


Bilhah 


Naphtali 


Zilpah 



ACT I 

Scene 1 — The Tents of Shechem 

A pleasant grove in a wide valley, with snowcapped 
mountains in the distance. 

The scene is on elevated ground, so that the whole 
expanse of the valley is disclosed between palm trees 
and other foliage. 

Indications of a large tent on the right. In the 
valley, dimly seen, are groups of tents, from which, 
when the sun has risen, thin threads of smoke rise 
straight into the air. 

It is the moment just before dawn. The snowy caps 
of the distant mountains glow with a rosy light which 
slowly creeps down their sides until the whole land- 
scape is baking in the glare of the sun. The scene 
remains in cool shade. 

Before the rise of the curtain a long, melodious horn- 
call has sounded. As the curtain rises a Slave standing 
near the tent L. is seen blowing on a ram's horn. Gradu- 
ally the scene comes to life. Slaves move hither and 
thither upon household duties, fetching water in skins 
from the well which is seen on the left. Women pass, 
with water in jars balanced on their heads. Camels, 
very small asses and sheep are driven to pasturage at 
the back of the scene, etc., etc, 

8 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

2d Slave [Levi's Slave] [To him who has just blown 
the signal] Out on thee, slave of Simeon, wilt thou 
shatter the dawn? 

1st Slave [Simeon's Slave] Thinkest thou the 
dawn will wait for thee, wretched bondman of a starve- 
ling lord? 

2d Slave. My Lord Levi hath thrice more flocks 
than thy Simeon. 

[2d Slave comes down] 

3d Slave [Dan's Slave] Who speaketh of Levi and 
Simeon? Dan is mightier than both. 

1st Slave [Contemptuously] The handmaid's son, 
forsooth! — Get thee to thy stinking camels. 

[Enter Judah and Dan. They are superb figures; 
their costume suggests at once the shepherd and 
warrior combined. Judah is the elder] 

Judah [Sternly] What is this wrangling, slaves? 

1st Slave [With a deep obeisance] We are but 
praising our lords 

2d Slave. And the hands that feed us. 

Judah [Haughtily] Get ye to your labour and your 
toil. The sons of Jacob need no praise from lips of 
slaves. 

[Exeunt the Slaves, but the movement of the Ser- 
vants and Women continuesi throughout the 
scene] 

Dan [Laughing] The sun hath not risen in a happy 
hour for thee to-day! 

[Enter Gad. He is of lighter, more youthful build 
than his brothers. Each of the Sons of Jacob, 

4 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

as he enters, is accompanied by his own Retinue 
of three or four Men] 

Gad. Yet 'tis a day of rejoicing! 

JuDAH. What day is it. Gad? 

Gad [Laughing] Nay, if thou know not, I'll not tell 
thee. 

JuDAH [Angrily] Wilt thou mock thine elders, boy? 

Gad. Oh, my elders, my elders ! What worth is 
thine elderhood? When thou art hidden in the grave I 
shall be in the flower of my days. 

Judah [Furious] Accursed seed of a handmaid 

Gad [Laughing] Let not Dan hear thee. 

Judah. The tents of Shechem are overrun with a 
base-born brood! 

[Enter Simeon. He is thin, wizened, with a crafty 
face and a furtive eye. His dress is not so rich 
as that of any of his brothers] 

Simeon. Whither lead ye your flocks to-day? 
Dan. What matter to thee, Simeon ? 
Simeon. Lest we all seek the same pasture. 
Dan. Or to tell thee where the best is. 
Gad. Whether we seek toward sunrise or sunset, 
Simeon's flocks have left no blade. 

[Enter Naphtali] 

Naphtali. To that I, Naphtali, bear witness. 
Simeon is as the grasshopper; who cometh after him 
starveth. 

[Enter Issachar] 

IssACHAR. He setteth spies among us — when we hear 
of new pasture, he is told, and stealeth it. 

5 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon. Issachar! Issachar! How much more of 
this insolence shall I suffer! 

[Enter Levi] 

Levi. These youths wax turbulent. Our father 
Jacob shall have a word for them ! 

Gad [With a mock bow] The solemn Levi! Broth- 
ers,, doff your sandals ! 

[Enter Zebulun] 

[The sons of Leah: Simeon, Levi and Judah are 
together on one side of the stage with their 
retinues, the other brothers face them] 

Zebulun. Why have our elders such frowning faces ? 
Gad. Hush, Zebulun! Oh, hush! Levi is about to 
speak ! 

Levi. And a blow shall follow the word ! 

[An angry roar from both sides. The Attendants 
on either side make ready their weapons; spears, 
slings and stones, bows and arrows] 

[Asher comes hurriedly down the centre] 
AsHER. Brothers! Great news! 

[The quarrel is arrested] 

Levi. What news, son of Zilpah? 

Gad. Whence runnest thou, Asher? 

Asher. I come from the fringe of the desert. 
Thither came a swarthy runner, seeking a well. For 
far in his wake, he said, followed a mighty train 

Simeon [Anxiously] Thou showd'st him no well! 

Asher. Ay, but I did 

[All give a cry of anger] 
6 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon. Have we battled for pastures and wells, to 
give them to strangers ? 

AsHER. Wait till my tale be told. In this runner's 
wake, then, journeyed a great host; and nightly he 
was sent ahead to seek a resting-place for the next 
morn. When this was found he ran back as he came 
and led the voyagers thither. ^ 

Simeon. And they defile the water and trample the 
young grass. 

Levi. They kill our herds and seize our youno; 
maidens for a prey. 

AsHER. I tell you, these come not in war or for 
rapine. They themselves are bearing a treasure of 

great price down to Egypt 

Simeon [Eagerly] What treasure .?» 

AsHER. Nought for thy claws to clutch. They come 

from Nineveh 

Levi. From Nineveh } 

AsHER. And they journey to Egypt. They bring a 
wife for one of Pharaoh's officers. 
JuDAH. Is she fair.^ 

AsHER. Thinkest thou the runner had seen her? 
Now, hearken. They seek food and raiment, for the 
way IS long. Also, wherever they pass they purchase 
gifts for their Lord and for Pharaoh— whatsoever is 

richest in the land 

Simeon. When will they pass.?* 

AsHER. When the runner left them, they were hard 
by Tirzah. 

Simeon [Moving off] I will go forth 

JuDAH. And I with thee, Simeon. 

Simeon [Angrili/] I have no need of thee. 

Levi. Think you this is for one or for two.? I have 

the finest woven stuffs, and cups of beaten gold 

7 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Dan. Have I naught? Have I no gems in which the 
sun is imprisoned? 

Gad. Ij then ! Spices and sweet ointments ! 

IssACHAR [Aggressively] This is not for the sons 
of handmaids. 

AsHER. Shall I bring you the news, and have no 
reward ? 

JuDAH. Is it battle between us ? Have you forgotten 
how we slew the men of Shechem? 

Simeon. So will we deal with you also ! 

Gad. We fought, while ye prated! 

Levi. On your heads be it, then! 

[Uproar. The two factions are just coming to 
blows when Reuben fights his way through 
them] 

Reuben. Peace — peace, I say! — I, Reuben, the eld- 
est-born, speak! 

All [Falling apart, and with respect] Reuben! 

Reuben [Sternly] Are ye the brood of Cain, that 
each would have his brother's blood, on the day our 
Father Jacob hath set apart as a day of rejoicing? 

Judah. Twice have I heard the day named as a day 
of rejoicing. What is the day? 

Reuben. Have ye forgotten? To-day Rachel's eld- 
est-born cometh to manhood. 

Judah. Joseph ! 

All. Joseph ! — The dreamer — The upstart ! 

Simeon. No day of rejoicing for us. 

Dan. Rather a day of dust and ashes. 

AsHER [Eagerly] Brothers ! No word of my news 
to Joseph! 

IssACHAR. He would turn it to his own good. 
8 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Reuben [To Asher, sternly] Son of Zilpah^ what is 
thy news? 

Simeon [Obsequiously, to Reuben] I will tell thee, 
apart. 

AsHER. Ay, him; but not Joseph. 

Levi [To the Brothers generally] We will share 
with you all, if we needs must; but the dreamer shall 
have no part. 

All. Ay ! Ay ! No part for the dreamer ! 

Reuben. I know not what new thing ye are banded 
in against Joseph; but I bid you beware. Our father 
loveth him as the apple of his eye. To-day, ere we go to 
our flocks, he is to endue him with the robe of manhood. 
To-night, when our labour is done, there is to be great 
feasting. Bring no sorrow into our father's house 
to-day. Moreover, Joseph hath dreamed a dream 

Gad [With a mocking laugh] That is no new thing! 

Reuben [Sternly] Bridle thy tongue — for when did 
Joseph's dreams not come true.'' And now he dreamed 
we were binding corn in the fields, and, lo, his sheaf 
arose and stood upright, and, behold, our sheaves stood 
round about, and made obeisance to his sheaf. 

Simeon [Surlily] What is the interpretation thereof? 

JuDAH [Hotly] Shall he reign over us? 

Dan. Shall he, indeed, have authority over us? 

Gad [To brothers] Why are ye affrighted by a 
dream ? 

Reuben. And he dreamed again, and, behold, the 
sun and the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance 
to him. 

Levi. Enough ! Enough ! How long shall we suffer 
him to prate of his dreams? 

Naphtali. He hath stolen our father's love with his 



visions I 



9 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Reuben. Not so. Jacob rebuked him, and said. 
What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I 
and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow 
down ourselves to thee to the earth.'* 
[Up to tent] 

AsHER. Ay, he rebuked him; but did he punish him? 

IssACHAR. Not so: — he observes Joseph's saying. 

Simeon. Ay — he feareth him. Wherefore we must 
humble the lad overselves. 

Reuben [Sternly] Silence! — Our father! 

[Enter Servants bringing a seat; others with sJcins 
which they spread in front of the seat; then, sup- 
ported by two young slaves, Jacob. He is 
eighty-six years old. A magnificent venerable 
figure. He is followed by Rachel — Behind 
Rachel comes Bilhah, and lastly Zilpah. The 
Brothers all make deep obeisance to Jacob, who 
sits in the chair which has been placed for him. 
Dan and Naphtali go to Bilhah; similarly 
Gad and Asher join Zilpah] 

Jacob [Standing] God set His face towards you, O 
my sons, this day and all days. 

Brothers [i?z>e] And towards thee, O father. 

Jacob. God hath been very merciful towards me, and 
hath given me length of days; I have prospered in the 
land; I am at peace with Esau, my brother; all my sons 
are with me, and to-day, Joseph [He takes Rachel's 
hand], Rachel's first-born, fruit of who knows what love 
and what prayer, hath come to man's estate 

Simeon. It had been more fitting had Joseph stood 
here with us. 

Rachel. Simeon, Simeon, thy brother Joseph was 
with thy father long ere the sun rose. 

10 




JACOB 

From a Drawing by Dorothy Parker 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Jacob. Ay, for he was troubled with visions God 
had sent him in the morning watch. 

IssACHAR [Hotly] So are we_, troubled with his 
visions ! 

Jacob. Know ye what he dreamed? 

Gad. Ay. Reuben made haste to tell us. 

Levi. Is the boy to be set above us? 

JuDAH [Kneels] My lord, we have toiled for thee, 
watching thy flocks by day and by night, warding off 
ravening beasts, and tending the young lambs. More- 
over, when thy herds grew more in number than the 
sands of the sea, we fought for new pastures and would 
have laid down our lives for thee. The men of Shechem 
can tell of the weight of our blows. What hath Joseph 
done, that thou lovest him more than us? 

Simeon. We have bought and sold for thee, not 
thinking of our own gain, but ever to strengthen thy 
hands. What hath Joseph done? 

Gad. Set thy face towards us, as it is towards 
Joseph. 

Dan. We weary of Joseph's name ! 

Rachel [To Jacob] My lord, shall the son of my 
handmaid speak scornfully of my first-born? 

BiLHAH. Dan is the elder, my lord ! 

Rachel [To her] Out on thee! 

Jacob [To Benjamin] Bid Joseph come. [Benja- 
min runs out] Woe upon you all, that ye speak evil 
of your brother in his absence. [He sees Joseph] 
My son, come hither. 

[Enter Joseph] 

Joseph [Making obeisance — not kneeling — to Jacob] 
Here I am, my lord. 

Rachel. Joseph! My beloved! 
II 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Thy blessing, mother. 

Jacob [Brethren murmuring with backs turned^ 
There shall be peace in the house of Jacob. Ye mur- 
mur against Joseph, saying my heart goeth out to him 
more than to you. Ye are vain talkers. I love him, 
not better, but otherwise. Oh, hard of heart! can ye 
not see and understand what my love is towards the 
lad? It is the love I bore to his mother in the years 
past. It is the love-song I whispered into her ear as 
she stood by the well. It is the toil I gave to win her. 
It is the hope long deferred. It is the sunshine of 
youth, bursting through the shadow of age. You, sons 
of Leah, sons of Bilhah, sons of Zilpah, have been the 
joy of my life; but he — but Joseph — is a joy above 
joys: — the Added Joy! 

Simeon. Yet 

Reuben [Stepping forrvard] O Father Jacob, great 
Israel, we know thy heart and thy mind, and we wiU 
cherish Joseph, even as thou dost. 

Joseph [Coming to Reuben] Reuben, my brother! 

Jacob. In token thereof give him the kiss of love. 
Rachel, begin! 

[First Rachel and then each of the Brothers 
comes forrvard, places both hands on Joseph's 
shoulders, speaks his blessing and kisses Joseph 
on the cheek. Then they pass back to their 
groups] 

Rachel. God shield thee, Joseph. 
Reuben. God strengthen thee. 
Levi. God keep thee. 
JuDAH. God succour thee. 
Dan. God enlighten thee. 
Naphtali. God lengthen thy days. 
12 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Gad. God increase thee. 

AsHER. God prosper thee. 

IssACHAR. God reward thee. 

Zebulun. God uphold thee. 

[Simeon has stood apart with folded arms and bent 
brorvs] 

Reuben [Reproachfully] Simeon 

Simeon [Between his teeth] I cannot; nor I will not. 

Reuben. Our father watcheth. 

Simeon [Advancing against his will] Joseph . . . 

Jacob [Who has been anxiously watching, sinks back 
with a sigh of relief] All is well! 

Joseph [Smiling] Ay, brother Simeon } 

Simeon. Our brothers have left me no blessing to 
give thee. 

Joseph. Yet bless me. 

Simeon [Without unfolding his arms] God — ^judge 
thee. 

[He turns away without kissing Joseph] 

Jacob [To Joseph] Come! [Jacob rises; Joseph 
comes to him, and is about to kneel] Nay, to-day I bow 
to thee. He that goeth down boweth to him that cometh 
up. [Two handmaidens bring a cloak of camel's hair 
which they allow to fall open. Jacob takes it from 
them] Now upon thy young shoulders I lay the 
Robe of Manhood and authority. Lo, here, the coat of 
many colours ; and each colour shall be for a sign : azure 
for wisdom, scarlet for courage, green for prayer, and 
white for purity. I clasp thee to me, flesh of m.y flesh; 
thy young heart against my old heart, whose first-born 
thou art; I raise my hand towards the throne of God, 
and I cry: God bless thee! 

[Long embrace. The Brothers mutter together] 
13 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon. What is this robe of manhood and authority? 

IssACHAR. Not one of us hath it. 

Naphtali. Over whom hath he authority? 

Dan. Not over me, for one. 

Levi. Our father will make him his heir. 

AsHER [To Reuben] First-born of his heart ! 

Reuben, did'st thou hear? 

Reuben [Soothingly] Peace! Peace! 

Joseph. O father — mother — O my brothers ! Ye 
have wrapped me about with love. Yea, and the bless- 
ing wherewith ye blessed me is already granted by 
God. 

Simeon. What now? 

Joseph. For lo, the dream I told my father at dawn 
is fulfilled. Sun, moon, and stars — you, my beloved — 
have bowed to me. 

Simeon. Ha ! 

[Angry movement among the Brothers] 

Jacob [Gravely] My son 

Joseph. Not as to a greater than yourselves. What 
am I, O Israel, in thy presence? Or who am I among 
these mighty sons of a mighty father? — Nay, but as the 
sun boweth to the earth to make her fruitful; as the 
moon boweth to shine on the young lambs; as the stars 
bow to gladden the waters; so have ye bowed to me 
with blessings and the gift of your love. 

Simeon. Cunningly twisted ! 

Gad. True son of his father! 

Simeon. But he shall not win my birthright for a 
mess of soft words. 

Jacob. Now the day's labour summoneth us. What 
new thing is there, Reuben? 

Reuben. Asher telleth of a strange woman from 
14 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Nineveh, journeying with a great following into Egypt. 
They will reach our wells in Dothan anon. 

Jacob. Go thither. Take fruits and rich woven 
stuffs and whatsoever the wayfarers need, and barter 
with them. 

Gad [Laughing] The strangers are hard to deal 
with: Simeon shall do the bartering. 

Jacob [With a smile] That will be to our increase. 
And to-night we will have feasting and song and merry- 
making in Joseph's honour; and he shall come in among 
us to the sound of music; and I will place him in the 
high seat by my side, and show him to all my house, 
as my well-beloved son ; and ye shall all bring your gifts. 

Reuben [To Servants] Make ready! 

[Servants lead on asses. Others bring bales and 
packages rvhich they load on the backs of the 
asses. All this is done well at the back of the 
scene] 

Simeon [To the others] Did you hear.^ We are to 
bring gifts ! 

Dan. Who feasted, or made merry for us.^ 
IssACHAR. Or who brought us gifts? 
Gad. This Joseph is as a nettle against our skin. 
Naphtali. As a viper in the young grass. 
Zebulun. Let us take counsel against him. 
AsHER. Ay; but let not Reuben hear us. 

[With an obeisance to Jacob they all go out. The 
beasts are led off. The Slaves follow. The 
Women and Children go up to watch them off, 
Jacob^ Rachel and Joseph are alone] 

Jacob. Joseph 

Joseph. Ay, father. 

15 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Jacob. Gq^ I pray thee. Follow thy brothers. See 
whether it be well with them and with the flocks, and 
bring me word again. 

Rachel [Ana:iously] My lord, I am afraid for my 
son; for the faces of his brothers are not towards him. 

Jacob. Reuben is with them; no harm will come to 
the lad. Let him go. 

Rachel [Embracing Joseph] Cling to Reuben. 
God be with thee, Joseph. 

[Joseph takes his shepherd's crook, which was 
leaning against a tree, and exit. Rachel standi 
looking after him] 

The Scene Changes. 



16 



SCENE II 
THE WELLS OF DOTHAN 
PERSONS 

Reuben Asher 

Simeon Issachar 

Levi Zebulun 

Judah Joseph 

Dan Ani 

Naphtali Heru 

Gad Zuleika 



^ Egyptians 



Slaves of the Israelites — Slaves of the Egyptians — 
Egyptian Warriors, Camel Drivers, etc. 

Scene 2 — The Wells of Dothan 

An oasis. It is a deliciously shaded grove in the heart 
of the desert. Between the stems of the trees and 
through one or two wider openings the desert is seen 
baking in the afternoon sun. Towards the right of the 
stage, but also towards the rear, is a shallow pool of 

17 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

water, surrounded hy aquatic plants. The vegetation 
on the stage is luxuriant, excepting near the centre, 
where there is, as it were, a blighted spot. There are 
indications of a deep hole, and the plants around it are 
dried up, withered and broken. 

Tinkling of small bells such as are hung around the 
necks of beasts of burden is heard off R., and presently 
enter Asher, in advance of Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Issa- 
CHAR and Zebulun. Behind them are the asses, as we 
saw them start in the previous scene. But the Slaves 
keep them half out of sight under the palms on the 
right. The Slaves fetch water from the pool in shallow 
vessels, and give the animals to drink. 

AsHER. These are the wells of Dothan; and hither I 
bade the runner lead his lords. 

Naphtali. a fair garden in a waste land. 

Dan. Where lag our elders? 

Gad. With Reuben. The true sons of Jacob, they 
call themselves, and cling together. 

Naphtali [^Examining the hole in the centre'\ This 
well is dry. 

AsHER [Pointing to the pool] But this is full of 
sweet water. 

Naphtali [With horror] Look! look, how smooth 

the sides are! I scarce see the bottom. Yet — ay! 

creeping things, with eyes gleaming, shine in the 
darkness. 

Gad [Who has joined him] Poisonous serpents, 

lizards and toads — and the oozing walls Ugh! 

Whoso slipped into that would never crawl out. 

AsHER [Looking off R.] Here come the proud 
brothers. 

Issachar. Is Joseph with them? 
18 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Naphtali [Bitterly] Not he. Father Jacob is 
fondling him. 

Dan. What gift hast thou ready for him, against 
to-night } 

Gad. I.^* — A stone for his grave. 

[Enter Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah] 

Gad. Have ye not brought our dear Joseph.'' 

Simeon. Now, may thy tongue rot! The name hath 
spoiled the joy of the day. 

Gad [Looking off R.] Ho! What would'st thou say 
if he vi^ere here.^^ 

Simeon [Furious] Say — ! I would do! 

Gad. Make ready to do, then; for hither he cometh. 

Simeon. The jester Gad! As if he dared come. 

Gad. Look! Yonder the speck in the desert. Seest 
thou not the glorious coat.'' Azure for wisdom, green 
for prayer, white for purity, and scarlet for 
courage. 

Simeon. He needeth courage! 'Tis he indeed! He 
is sent to spy upon us. [Calling] Levi! Judah! 

Gad [Quieting him] Peace! What wilt thou do.^ 

Simeon. We shall know no peace till Joseph be at 
peace. We must take counsel 

Gad [Slyly] With Reuben.? 

Simeon. Ah! — the marplot! — [A sudden thought 
strikes him] Which way are the strangers to come.'* 

Gad [Pointing off R. back] From yonder. 

Simeon [Calling] Ho! Reuben! 

Reuben. Ay, brother.? 

Simeon. 'Twere well to do the strangers honour. 

Reuben. How can we honour them ere they come? » 

Simeon. Take the slaves — a great retinue — and 
go forth, thou, Jacob's eldest-born — to meet them. 

19 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Reuben [Gravely] Hast thou aught hidden in thy 
mind, Simeon — to Joseph's hurt? 

Simeon. Is Joseph here? Is he coming? Can I 
think of nought but Joseph ? I spake for our advantage. 
Go, or stay. 'Tis all one to me. 

Reuben [Calling the Slaves] Ho! there! Come! — 
Yet my heart is heavy. Well — ! Which way are these 
wanderers coming? 

Simeon [Pointing off L.] Yonder. 

AsHER. Nay 

[Gad plucks his gown and motions him to silence] 

Reuben. I will go. Should the lad Joseph come 

Simeon [Leading him off L.] Vex not thyself for 

the lad 

Reuben. Yonder, you say? If I meet them not 

soon, I shall return in haste. Farewell. 

[Exit with all the Slaves] 

Simeon [Hurriedly] Now! let us take counsel 
quickly. 

Levi. What is toward? 

Simeon [Pointing R.] Look, who cometh. 

Levi. Where? I see nought. 

Simeon. Look! Look well! Dost thou see him, 
Judah? 

JuDAH. Ay — a moving speck on the sand 

IssACHAR. Nay, by the swing of him, if I knew not 
'twere impossible, I should say 

AsHER. By the grave of Isaac ! 'Tis Joseph himself ! 

All [With fury] Joseph! 

Levi. But why should he come? 

Simeon. He is sent as a spy. 

Levi. Were I sure of that ! 

20 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

IssACHAR. To lord it over us; to carry tales of every 
word we speak is he sent. 

Simeon. Ay! and to take his share of the barter. 
Ours the heat and the toil, and his the reward! 

Zebulun. Are we never to be rid of the dreamer.^ 

Simeon [Darkly] Never — unless 

All. Unless what.'* Speak! 

Simeon. What is not done for us, we must do for 
ourselves. 

Levi [With hor7'or] Simeon! 

Simeon. What else.'' How long will ye suffer in- 
iquity? Come, now, therefore, and let us slay him. 

JuDAH. I will have no bloodshed. The curse of Cain 
would be upon us. 

Simeon. Why, look, now, look! [Pointing to the dry 
well] This pit is deep, and there are evil things within 
it. The sides are smooth, and we have no rope. If he 
fell in, by mischance — he could not crawl out, nor could 
we have him out ; and ere we fetched help, the — things — 
in its depth would have made help of no avail. 

JuDAH. Ay — thus we lay no hand upon him. 

IssACHAR. But what shall we say to Jacob, our 
father ? 

Simeon. We will say, some evil beast hath devoured 
him. 

Gad [Laughing] And we will see what becomes of his 
dreams ! 

Asher. Yet — there is Reuben. 

Dan. Reuben is far by this time. 

Simeon. Seest thou now why I sent him away? 

Joseph's Voice [Without, R. front] Reuben, my 
brother ! 

Simeon [Mockingly] Ay! Call upon Reuben! 

Joseph's Voice. Reuben! Reuben! 
21 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Gad [Answering] Ho! Dreamer! 

[Enter Joseph R. front. In his right hand is the 
shepherd's crook; in his left arm he carries a 
young lamb] 

Joseph. Happy the hour wherein I find you. Give 
me to drink. 

Simeon. We have no water to spare. 

Joseph. Nay, not for me, but [Indicating the lamb] 
for this poor orphan here. 

Judah. Yonder are the shepherds, let it seek its 
mother. 

Joseph [Setting the lamb down L.] Run, then, 
innocent. 

Zebulun. Why art thou come.^ 

Joseph. Our father sent me. I was to see whether 
all was well with you, and with the flocks. 

Gad. All is well. Go thy ways, homeward. 

Joseph [Laughing] Nay! I am anhungered and 
athirst ! 

Simeon. We need thee not. As a spy art thou come 
hither. 

Joseph. What has thou done, Simeon, that thou so 
dreadest a spy? 

Simeon. I have work to do. I'll have no boys watch- 
ing me. 

Joseph. I'll not watch thee. I am for food and 
sleep. 

Dan. Ay; to dream dreams of our downthrow, and 
thine uplifting. 

Joseph [Whimsically] If I wake I am guilty, and 
I am guilty if I sleep ! — Heigh-ho ! I would Reuben 
were here. 

Naphtali. Reuben went to meet the wayfarers. 
22 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon. It is high time we spread out our wares. 
JuDAH. Reuben having taken the slaves^ we must 
unload the bales ourselves. To work! 

[The brothers fetch the hales, etc., from where they 
are lying and spread the goods under the trees. 
Simeon places his half out of sight] 

AcHER. Behold my rich woven-stuffs of camel- 
hair. 

JuDAH. My honey from Lebanon^ in the coolest 
shade. 

Naphtali. My skins of lions and tigers; my own 
arrows laid them low. 

Dan. Glittering gems! Ho! the lady's eyes shall 
glitter as brightly when she beholdeth them. 

Levi. Oil^ fresh from the olives of Hermon. 

IssACHAR. Milk and cheeses from my ewes. 

Zebulun. I have nought but melons [Slices one in 
two] But look at that and be athirst! 

Joseph. Surely, you will give the weary strangers 
the milk and the melons without price. Our father, 
Jacob 

Simeon [Eagerly] Said I not he came as a spy? 

JuDAH. But thou, Simeon, wherefore layest thou thy 
store where the strangers may not see it.^ 

Simeon [Laughing] Ho! Wilt thou teach me to 
barter.^ I tell thee, these will be first seen. And when 
the strangers say, what are these? I shall answer. 
These be gifts for my sweet brother, Joseph. 

Joseph [Laughing] Why, then, I'll take my gifts 
noM^; and thank thee! 

Simeon. Fool! Thinkest thou I mean what I say? 

Joseph. Can a man say one thing, and mean 
another ? 

23 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon [To the others] Then the stranger will bid 
and bid, until he hath bidden — what they are worth. 

Joseph. Simeon, thou art jesting. 

Simeon. I seek not thy counsel, dreamer! 

Joseph. Thou wilt not do this evil thing! 

Simeon. Will I not.^ Stand by, and watch. 

Joseph [Hotly] I will not stand by silently. 

Simeon [Edging him towards the pit] \Vhat wilt 
thou do, dreamer, what will thou do? 

Joseph. I will cry aloud: These wares he got for 
a drink of water! 

Simeon. Ay, and what else ? What else ? 

Joseph. And if that will not serve, our father Jacob 
shall hear of it. 

Simeon. Ay? Wilt thou report of me? 

The Others [Closing in on Joseph, so that he is 
forced towards the well] And of me? And of me? 

Joseph. Reuben ! Reuben ! 

[Cries] Out on the dreamer! Death! Death! 

Joseph. Reuben ! 

Simeon. Anon thou wast thirsty — go! seek water! 

Joseph. Reu ! 

[He falls backward into the pit. A long pause of 
horror] 

JuDAH. Simeon — what hast thou done? 

Simeon. Sent him where he cannot tell tales. 

Levi. Is the boy — dead ? 

Dan. I dare not look! 

IssACHAR. Nor I. 

Simeon. I am not so /aint-hearted. [He gazes into 
the pit] I cannot see him. 

JuDAH [Listening] Hark — No sound. — Alas! the 
boy is dead! 

24 




Courtesy of Liebler and Cofnpany, N. Y, 



THE BROTHERS ATTACKING JOSEPH 

Act I — Scene II 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Now the sound of harharic music is heard from the 
R. back. It increases rapidly. Presently a gor- 
geous caravan heaves in sight. First a runner on 
foot, showing the way; then slaves bearing 
heavy burdens, tents, etc. Then warriors 
mounted on horses or camels, and armed to the 
teeth. [Spears, swords, bows and arrows, etc.] 
Then camels with women closely veiled; then 
another camel magnificently caparisoned, with a 
curtained basourah on its back, in which the fig- 
ure of a woman is dimly perceptible. Lastly, more 
mounted and unmounted warriors. The caravan 
halts, and all but the women dismount; but all 
except the captain of the caravan remain at the 
bach of the stage. The camel bearing the 
basourah stands near the dried well] 

Levi. Trumpets and shawms ! It is the strange 
woman with her train. 

Gad. If they see your woful countenances, they'll 
think the plague is amongst us. 

JuDAH. I will not meet them with my heart so 
heavy. 

Levi. What is done is done. [To the captain of the 
caravan — Heru — who has dismounted and advances] O 
strangers, are ye come in peace .^ 

Heru. We are come in peace. Do ye greet us peace- 
fully? 

Levi. Peacefully we greet you. 

Heru. Here will we abide, then, till the sun bend 
westward, and water our cattle. 

Simeon [Stepping forward, cringingly] Alas, the 
water faileth. Lo, there is barely enough for our own 
beasts. 

25 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Heru [Angrily] Are not the wells free to all way- 

f arers 

Simeon [Humbly] My lord, we be sons of a poor 
man. We have won these wells with much toil and 
battle. The wells are not free. 

Heru. Must we do battle for the wells? 

[The warriors in the caravan are at attention, and 
make ready their weapons] 
Heru [Haughtily] Let us drink, lest we slay you. 
[The brothers are furious. Simeon appeases them 
with a movement of his hand. He continues 
more humbly than ever, but with a veiled threat] 
Heru. I am Heru-Netch-Tef, the servant of Poti- 
•nhar, the Egyptian. 

Simeon. Were my lord Pharaoh himself, and slew 
us, or stole our water, my lord should surely perish. 

Ani [An Egyptian, to Heru] Better speak the 
rogue softly, my lord. These tribesmen are banded 
together. The wilderness hath many eyes, and what is 
done here is known yonder, the gods only wot how. 
Remember, we are the guardians of a priceless charge 
Heru [To Simeon] Thou— what price dost thou set 

on the water? , , . i . i r ^\.^ 

Simeon. My lord shall drink, and let drmk, for the 

chain that hangs about his neck. . „ , ^xr f.. 

Heru. Take it, rogue [To the slaves] Ho! Water 
the camels. 

[The slaves busy themselves carrying water in 
shallow vessels to the beasts. The warriors dis- 
mount; wash in vessels brought by the 5Zat;e*, 
and stretch themselves out in the shade. All at 
the bach of the stage] 
26 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon [Seeing a slave going towards the dry well] 
[Hastili/] Not this, my lord! This is dried up, and 
venomous serpents swarm in it. 

Heru. The rogue still hath shreds of honesty. 
[Pointing to the brothers] Who are these? 

Simeon. We are brethren, my lord: sons of one 
father. This morning we were eleven; but now one is 
not, and our hearts are heavy, 

Heru. All men are mortal — save Pharaoh. 

Levi. Will not my lord sit in the shade? 

JuDAH. My lord's wife, and her handmaidens must 
be weary 

Heru. Not my wife. We are bringing the lady 
Zuleika to be wife to Pharaoh's general, the Lord 
Potiphar. 

JuDAH. The lady Zuleika — I have heard strange 
tales of her beauty — and her wisdom. 

Heru. As to her beauty, it is past telling. As to her 
wisdom, it is past comprehension. 

JuDAH. May we not set eyes on her? 

Heru [Threateningly] On thy life! 

Dan [Pointing to the wares set out] Yet she would 
have liked to see these. 

Simeon [Laughing] Brother, thou speakest almost 
as if these were for sale. 

Heru. Why else are they here? 

Simeon. These are the gifts we meant for our 
brother, Joseph — but Joseph is dead, and we rend our 
garments. 

Heru [Examining the wares] Rich gifts. Joseph 
must have been very dear to you. 

Simeon. Alas! Who shall tell how we loved him? 

Ani [To Heru] There be things here to gladden 
Zuleika, my lord; and others fit for Pharaoh's treasury. 

27 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Heru [To Simeon] Come now^ shall we not barter? 
Here is gold 

Simeon. My lord is merry. Because we are very 
poor my lord would tempt us 

Heru. Here, then ! Double. 

Levi [Anxiously — to Simeon] Simeon — ! 

Simeon [Angrily] Let me be! — Ho, brothers! 
Cover these wares from my lord's sight, lest he do us a 
wrong. 

[The brothers reluctantly do so] 

Heru. Here, then. Thrice the first offer. 

Simeon. It is easy to see my lord is a stranger. [He 
catches sight of Zuleika, who has moved the curtain of 
her basourah a very little and is peeping out] These 
spices alone — [He takes a handful and throws it into 
the air] mark how they scent the air! — This cloth of 
gold — see how it glitters! — Nay, one of these gems — 
how many lives were lost to win it! — is worth twice 
what my lord offers for all. And I say nought of our 
dear brother's memory. Cover them! Cover them 
quickly. 

Heru [Funous] Now, a plague be upon you all. 
Keep your trumpery! 

[He turns away] 

Levi. Lost ! Lost ! 

Simeon [Watching the basourah] Silence! 

Zuleika's Voice. Heru-Netch-Tef ! 

Heru [With hands uplifted; the attitude of worship] 
Thy slave hears. 

Zuleika's Voice. Buy all their wares at their own 
price. 

[Applause] 

28 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Heru turns to Simeon] 

Heru. Thou — come apart with me, and let us reason. 
Simeon. Alas ! my lord will get the advantage. In 
my lord's hands I am but an innocent babe. 
Heru. The gods shield me from many such! 

[They move out of sight, bargaining] 
[Slaves pack up the rvares] 

Joseph's Voice [From the pit in a sort of chant] 

The Lord my God; the Almighty God^ 

He shall lift me out of the mire. 
JuDAH [Starting] What is that? 
Dan. It is Joseph! He is alive! 
IssACHAR. If the strangers hear him — ! 
Joseph's Voice — 

They digged a pit for me and cast me in. 

But I shall arise and confound them. 

For my God is the only God, 

The gods of the strangers are stocks and stones: 

But my God is Almighty! 

[The curtains of the hasourah are violently agitated] 

Zuleika's Voice [Angrily] Who mocketh at my 
gods } Who singeth of a God that is greater than mine } 

Ani [Who has come to the dried well and is peering 
into it] There is one in the well — 

Zuleika's Voice. Have him forth! 

Ani. He standeth among serpents — 

Zuleika's Voice [As if fascinated] He standeth 
among serpents? — Have him forth quickly! 

[Under the direction of Ani two slaves bring ropes 
which they lower into the well. Re-enter 
Simeon and Heru] 

29 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon [Dolefully] I said I was an innocent 
babe—! 

Heru. Say thou hast made me a free gift! 

Simeon. 'Twere all but the truth. [He sees the 
slaves at the well and hurries to the brethren] What 
now.f* 

Dan [Indicating the well] Look! Joseph is alive! 

Simeon [Furious] Hath he seven lives? 

Gad. Watchj Simeon! 

Simeon [To Gad and Asher; handing them bags of 
money] Ye — bear these to Shechem! Run swiftly! 
Away ! 

[Gad and Asher run off R. front with bags] 

Heru [Who ha^ been to the well, turns to Simeon as 
Joseph is brought to the edge] Thou, what is 
this.> 

Simeon. Brethren, rejoice! This is our brother, 
whom we mourned as dead ! — O Joseph, is all truly well 
with thee.'* 

Joseph. Away, false Simeon, that would'st have 
slain me! 

Simeon [To Heru] Hearken not unto him! He is 
a dreamer ! 

Heru. Silence! [To Joseph] Thou, tell thy tale. 

Joseph. Nay ! Shall I tell tales against the sons of 
my father? 

Zuleika's Voice. Have ye drawn him forth? 

Heru. Ay, lady. 

Zuleika's Voice. He mocketh at my gods. Strip 
him and slay him! 

Heru. Well said ! At least we shall have sport for 
our money. 

Judah [Angrily] Ye cannot slay the lad! 
SO 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[At a sign from Heru, warriors form a line holding 
the Brothers back] 

Heru [To Judah] Hold thy peace! Ho, slaves, 
strip him! 

[Slaves tear off the coat of many colours. Joseph 
stands as we first saw him, clad in skins] 

Joseph [Calmly] Ye cannot slay me. 

Heru. Can we not.^ [To a slave] Show him the 
knife. 

Joseph. God will deliver me, for He is not a lying 
God as yours are 

Zuleika's Voice. Slay him! — I will wash my 
hands in his blood. 

Heru [To slave] Make ready. 

[The slave sharpens the knife] 

Judah. See how he faces them! 

Levi [Veiling his face] I cannot look upon this. 

Zuleika's Voice. Wait! — I would see! 

[She opens the curtains of the hasourah and ap- 
pears in all her loveliness] 

Judah [Awed; pointing to her] Look! Look! 

ZuLEiKA. Now! [The slave raises the knife to 
plunge it into Joseph's throat. Joseph's eyes are turned 
on ZuLEiKA. She cries] Stop! 

[Heru catches the slave's arm just in time] 

ZuLEiKA [To Joseph] What is thy name? 

Joseph. Joseph. 

ZuLEiKA [Very musically, drawing out the syllables] 
Joh-seph. [To Heru] Lo ! I sought a gift to bring 
to my lord Potiphar, and I found nought. Here is what 

31 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

I sought. Thou^ buy this lad of his brothers, and I 
will give him to my lord to be his slave. 

Joseph. I will be no man's slave! 

ZuLEiKA [Very tenderly] Hush! — Thou shalt be my 
lord's slave — and mine. • 

[She disappears behind the curtains, which close 
over her] 

JuDAH [Hotly] The lad is restored to life. It is 
God's Hand. We cannot sell him. 

Simeon. What! Shall he come home to tell Jacob .^ 

Levi. Simeon saith well! 

All. Sell him! Sell him! 

Heru. He is not yours to sell, since ye would have 
slain him. [Contemptuously] Yet here be twenty 
pieces of silver — [He tosses a bag at Simeon's feet] 
lest ye die of grief! 

Simeon [Picking up the bag] Twenty pieces ! — a 
poor price for a beloved brother. 

Heru. Hah! [To slaves] Put his coat upon him. 

Simeon [Quickly putting his foot on the coat] Nay, 
nay, my lord; leave us the coat for a reminder. 

Heru [To slaves] Let the rag lie. Lead on! 

[All make ready to start] 

[Simeon hurriedly takes the coat and goes out L, 
with it] 

Joseph [To his brothers] Ye have sold me into 
bondage for twenty pieces of silver, but I tell you the 
day is at hand when ye shall come on your knees asking 
mercy. 

Levi [Furious] The dreamer! Away with him! 

Joseph. Ye shall come on your knees asking mercy ! 
and I shall deliver you and set you in high places. 

32 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[A roar of fury from the brothers. Joseph is 
surrounded by the Egyptians and led off. The 
brothers are left alone] 

[Simeon re-enters with the coat, now bloodstained] 

JuDAH. Now, Simeon, what tale shall we tell our 
father ? 

Simeon. None. Reuben shall tell the tale, and he 
shall tell what he thinks true. [He displays Joseph's 
coat; it is rent, and dabbled in blood] Lo, Joseph's 
coat ! Let it lie here for Reuben to find. Shall he know 
I rent it, or that the blood is the blood of the lamb 
Joseph brought — which I have slain .f* 

Levi. Are we to say nought, then? 

Simeon. We know nought. We never saw Joseph. 
Mark that well — we never saw him. Let Reuben tell 
his own tale. 

IssACHAR. How, then, did Joseph die? 

Simeon. Are there no lions in Dothan? 

[As they move off the scene changes] 



S3 





SCENE 


III 






JACOB'S 


TENT 




PERSONS 




Jacob 






Asher 


Reuben 






Issachar 


Simeon 






Zebulun 


Levi 






Benjamin 


Judah 






A Camel Driver 


Dan 






Rachel 


Naphtali 






Bilhah 


Gad 






ZilpaJi 



A Water Bearer 
Minstrels, Singers and Dancers, Slaves, etc. 

Scene 3 — The Interior of Jacobus Tent in the Valley 
of Shechem 

A vast vague space. At the back are curtains rvhich 
can be drawn aside. In front a pile of rough cushions 

34> 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

forms a sort of throne. Boughs of palms decorate the 
tent. Oil lamps hang from the roof, and torches are 
fixed to the poles of the tent. Jars stand about, from 
which presently Slaves will pour wine into shallow cups 
for the guests. Great heaps of fruit — melons, grapes, 
pomegranates — are piled here and there for the guests 
to help themselves to. Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah 
are busy putting the final touches to the decorations with 
the help of other Handmaidens. 

Rachel. Now the feast is ready. 

Bilhah. My lord Jacob will be here anon. 

Zilpah. Also his sons will come back from their 
sheepfolds. 

Rachel. I have summoned the minstrels and dancers. 

Bilhah. The sun set angrily. 

Zilpah. Ho ! Bilhah always foreseeth evil ! 

Rachel. There shall be no evil to-night, but mirth 
and music. 

{Enter Jacob L., attended^ 

Jacob. God's peace rest upon us. 
The Women. And upon my lord. 
Jacob. Is there news of the brothers? 
Rachel. Not yet, my lord. 
Jacob. Hath not Joseph come back? 
Rachel. I have not seen him. 

[Enter Naphtali C, attended^ 
Naphtali. Thy blessing, father. 
Jacob. How fare thy brothers? 
Naphtali. All is well with them. 
Jacob. And Joseph? 
Naphtali. Here is a gift I bring for him. 

[Enter Judah, Levi and Gad, attended, C] 
35 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

JuDAH. Father, thy blessing! 

Jacob. Where is Joseph? 

JuDAH. Where should he be, but safe in thy keeping? 

Jacob. I sent him to see whether all was well with 
you. 

JuDAH. All is well with us, and with the flocks. 

Levi. Simeon bringeth great treasure he won from 
the strangers. 

Jacob. But Joseph? Where is Joseph? 

Gad. We bring gifts for the lad. 

[Enter Dan, Issachar and Zebulun, attended] 

Dan. Bless us, O father, at the day's end. 

Jacob. Why came ye not with the others? 

Dan. We stayed to see the flocks folded; for the 
heavens are overcast, and a storm cometh up from the 
north. 

BiLHAH. I saw the clouds rising, and I feared the 
storm. 

Jacob. But why tarrieth Joseph? — And Reuben? — 
where is my first-born? 

Levi. Perchance they are together. 

Rachel. Ay! for I bade Joseph cling to Reuben. 

Jacob. Ah ! well-remembered ! My heart grew heavy ! 

[Enter Simeon, alone, C] 

Simeon. Bless me, O Israel! 

Jacob [Rises] The wily Simeon! How fared the 
day? 

Simeon. Oh, well! Oh, marvellous well! Gad and 
Asher bent under the burden of riches I won for us. 

Jacob. And Joseph? Where is he? 

Simeon. I was about to ask thee; for I bring a 

gift 

36 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Rachel [Who has been watching him keenly^ Son 
of Leah, where is my child? 

Simeon. Thou gavest him into Reuben's charge; ask 
Reuben. 

[Meanwhile the stage has gradually filled with men 
and maidens, who stand shyly and aivkwardly 
around the walls] 

Levi. Behold, father, the maids and men grow im- 
patient. 

Jacob. Can we begin without Reuben and Joseph.^ 

Levi. They will be here anon. 

Jacob. Begin, then; but I am troubled. 

[He takes his place on the throne. Rachel sits by 
his side, on his right. Bilhah and Zilpah stand 
behind him] 

[The minstrels [harp, shawm, psaltery, flutes, 
drum] group themselves on Jacob's right, near 
the footlights] 

Issachar. Ho! I am the master of the revels! 
Maids and men ! Israel, the Soldier of God, taketh the 
high-seat. Sound, shawms and timbrels ! Sound, songs 
of rejoicing! The dance! The dance! 

[The centre of the stage is cleared. While the 
dance is in progress. Slaves hand round food 
and drink to Jacob and his group, to the broth- 
ers, who stand together on the opposite side of 
the stage, and to the non-dancers. The non- 
dancers, not otherwise occupied, clap their hands 
rhythmically to the dance] 

[First, men unwind from the crowd where they 
appear to have been standing in no particular 

37 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN ' 

order, and dance down, forming graceful figures, 
and singing as they dance] 

IssACHAR. First come the camel drivers, with their 
song. 

Men [Singing and dancing] 

(Solo) 

Wide and waste is the wilderness; 
But God is great! — 

(Chorus) 

Ho ! press on ! press on ! 

(Solo) 

The night falls; the moon ariseth; 
Lo ! the voices of the desert wake ! 

(Chorus) 

Ho ! press on ! press on ! 

(Solo) 

Under the palm-trees, by the well. 

My love gazeth to greet me; 

She hearkeneth for the bells of my camels — 

(Chorus) 

Ho! press on! press on! 
Zebulun. I hear the moan of the wind — the storm 
draweth near. 

[The men have danced up stage] 

IssACHAR. Now the water bearers answer the 
men. 

[Maidens, each balancing a rvater-jar on her head, 
file out of the crowd and dance down] 
38 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Maidens [Singing and dancing] — 
(Solo) 

I have braided my hair with threads of gold: 
Red gold in my ebony tresses — 

wanderer in the wilderness, 

(Chorus) 

Hither to me ! to me ! 

(Solo) 

1 have hung great gems about my throat: 
Onyx and beryl on my brown throat — 

(Chorus) 

Oh! hither to me! 

(Solo) 

The eyes of my lover gleam through the night; 
I hear the bells of his camels in haste 
(Chorus) 
Ah! hither! hither to me! 
Zebulun. The moan of the wind groweth fiercer. 
Dan. The palm-trees whistle in its rage. 
IssACHAR. Now the men and maidens meet in the 
dance of betrothal. 

[The men and maidens face each other and as they 
sing the dance illustrates the song] 

Men. Thou art mine^ beloved, I hold thee! 
Maids. Hold me fast, lest I slip from thee ! 
Men. My hands are about thy neck! 
Maids. I bow my neck and am free! 
Men. I clasp thee about the waist! 
Maids. I turn, and am as free as the air! 



ACT II 

THE TEMPTATION 

Genesis XXXIX 



PERSONS 


Potiphar 


A Runner 


Imhotep 


Joseph 


Serseru 


Zuleika 


Ranofer 


Asenath 


Menthu 


Wakara 


Heru 


Mehtu 


Am 


Anset 


Tehuti 


Arilennu 


Sebni 


Taherer 


Atha 


Nesta 



Tamai 
Ladies, Nobles, Officers, Slaves 



ACT II 

Scene 1 — The Central Hall in Potiphar's House 

One-half of the back is the pillared entrance, beyond 
which there is a distant view of the Pyramids. In the 
other half of the back is a sliding door up three steps, 
leading to Zuleika's room. There is a door R., and an- 
other L. In the centre is a throne-like chair without 
arms. The decorations of the walls, doors, pillars, etc., 
are all in very bright colours. There are several stands 
for incense. It is sunset. 

Two Officers of Potiphar's household — Sebni and 
Tehuti — are discovered. Slaves come and go, busy on 
household matters. 

Sebni [To the slaves'l Hurry! Hurry! Our lord 
will be here! 

Tehuti. To judge by the time it takes, Sebni, my lord 
Potiphar and the lady Zuleika will be fast bound. 

Sebni. Ah, Tehuti, I would not wed so near the 
edge of war. 

Tehuti. Is war near? 

Sebni. They say the savages of the south grow 
restless. 

Tehuti. I'd wait for no savages, were Zuleika my 
bride. 

Sebni. Curb thy tongue, lest Joseph hear thee — 

Tehuti {Pensively'] Ay — Joseph — ! Slave, and 
overlord ! — Some men are born fortunate — 

Sebni {Alarmed^ Silence! — Silence! 
45 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Tehuti. If my bride^ being on a journey, bought so 
fair a slave, and set him over her household — 

Sebni. Joseph hath no eyes, save for the Lady 
Asenath. 

Tehuti. Ha! The high priest's daughter! The 
Canaanite will singe his wings. 

Sebni. Silence ! — Joseph ! 

[Enter Joseph at the back. He is clothed in the 
Egyptian manner. Several Slaves accompany 
him] 

Joseph. My lord and his wife come from the temple. 
Is all ready here.'* 

Sebni. All is ready, my good lord. 

Joseph. Friend, friend, call me by my name; for I 
am lord Potiphar's bondman, as thou art. [To the 
slaves] Throw incense upon the coals. 

[Sound of girls' voices singing off R.] 

Tehuti. I hear girls' voices. [He looks off R,] 
The lady Zuleika's handmaidens draw near. 

Sebni. And with them the virgin Asenath. 

Joseph [With joy] Asenath — ! 

Tehuti. Joseph — hast thou also heard rumours of 
war? 

Joseph [Thinking of Asenath] I, friend — } 
[Laughing] Talk not of war ! Hither cometh spring on 
tripping feet, and laughter, and peace, and love. 

[Enter Asenath, a radiantly beautiful young girl, 
follorved by six Egyptian Girls, namely : Mehtu, 
Anset, Arilennu, Taherer, Nesta and Tamai. 
They are all laden with flowers. They come in 
laughing and chatting merrily. Joseph advances 
to meet them] 

46 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Joy to this house, whose threshold your feet 
have crossed. 

AsENATH. We come to welcome the bride ; we come to 
deck her bower with the lily and the lotus; with the red 
pomegranate, and with the purple passion flower. 

[The Girls divide. Some go to the inner chamber, 
L. Others hang their flowers round the pillars 
at the hack, and over the door R. Sebni and 
Tehuti help the latter. Tamai is one of these, 
and she constantly interrupts her work to gaze 
at Joseph] 

Joseph [Gazing at Asenath] Happy the bride, with 
such flowers to greet her. 

Asenath [Laughing roguishly] Yet thou seest them 
not! 

Joseph [Eagerly] I see the fairest. 

Asenath [Demurely] The Shepherd of Dothan is 
soft of speech. 

Joseph [Starting back] The Shepherd of Dothan — ! 
Alas ! I had forgotten. 

Asenath [Coming towards him anxiously] What had 
Joseph forgotten? 

Joseph. I had forgotten I am a bondman to Poti- 
phar; a stranger in Egypt; a slave; a straw, blown by 
the wind; a leaf floating on the water. Mine eyes are 
the eyes of a slave, and must see nought; my tongue is 
a slave's tongue, and must utter no sound [Passionately] 
though here — here — a man's heart be beating. 

Asenath [Trying to touch him with her hand — but 
he avoids her touch] Poor heart! Is it beating for 
freedom? 

Joseph. It is beating — [With intense eagerness] 
Asenath, Asenath, they whisper that war is at ' hand, 

47 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

that Pharaoh will send Potiphar forth to strike down 
rebellion. I will throw myself at my lord's feet; he 
shall let me fight at his side; fighting I will win free- 
dom^, and then^ when I come back, a free man, mine eyes 
shall gaze into thine; and my tongue shall tell thee 
why my heart beateth so wildly. 

AsENATH. But in the battle thou may'st be slain. 

Joseph. At least I shall be free! 

AsENATH. And I forever bound. 

Joseph. Asenath — ! [With agony] Oh! I forget 
my bonds ! 

Asenath. Rid thyself quickly of thy bonds^ lest 
thou be too late. 

Joseph. Too late? 

Asenath. My father is the priest of the great god- 
dess Neith. 

Joseph. Alas, I know not thy strange gods. 

Asenath. Thou shalt tell me of thine in happier 
days. My father is a stern man. There is one at 
court, a great officer in Pharaoh's household, who stand- 
eth next to him when he breaketh bread — 

Joseph [Laughing] Of monstrous girth: I know 
him well — 

Asenath. He seeketh me to wife. 

Joseph. He — ! That ancient mountain — ! 

Asenath. My father loveth him. [Girls come down] 
I plead I am too young; the Chief Baker pleadeth he 
waxeth too old. O Joseph, the day is near when I must 
choose — • 

Joseph. Choose — ! There is choice, then.^ 

Asenath. Ay — 'twixt wedding the old lord, or leav- 
ing the world forever, in the sisterhood of Neith. 

Joseph [Violently] Neither one or the other! By 
the true God, I swear — ! 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

AsENATH [Frightened] Hush! — The maidens — 
Joseph [Bitterly] Ay — I had forgotten again. Ho ! 
I am here but to stir the incense poisoning God's air ! 

[He does so. The smoke goes up] 

AsENATH. Zuleika will ever have it so. I think God's 
air poisoneth her. 

Joseph. Dost thou, too, feel the dread? Where she 
walketh I think the flowers wither. Look; these are 
failing already. 

AsENATH [Hushed] They say she hath led many 
men to their deaths. 

Joseph. Then that is the evil spell about her: the 
dead men walk at her side. 

AsENATH. She is very fair. 

Joseph. Her beauty blindeth and burneth: it is un- 
speakable. 

AsENATH [Hurt hy his words] Alas — ! 

Joseph. There is only one shield against it. 

AsENATH. What is that.^ 

Joseph. Love. 

Sebni [At the door R.] My lord Potiphar draweth 
nigh. 

AsENATH. And the bride? 

Sebni. Later. The lord of the house must be here 
to receive her. 

Joseph [To Asenath] Come! We will meet them 
on the threshold. 

[He goes out with Asenath. Sebni and Tehuti 
follow. The six girls come down in eager 
chatter] 

Mehtu. Asenath is gone with the Canaanite! 
Anset. I would go with him to the end of the 
world ! 

49 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Arilennu. Have ye seen Zuleika's eyes on him? 

Nesta [With a comic shudder] Whoo! She will eat 
him up! 

Anset. And never leave us a bone! 

Taherer. But he keepeth his eyes on the ground. 

Arilennu. Save when Asenath is near. 

Anset. Then they flash fire. 

Mehtu. I would give my youth to see them flash so 
for me. 

Arilennu [To Tamai, who has stood silent, watching 
the door] Thou, what wouldst thou do ? 

Tamai [With utter devotion] If he spake to me — if 
he called me — Nay ! I will not say what I would do, 
or what I would give. 

[The girls break into gay laughter. A flourish of 
trumpets. Enter Potiphar, leaning on Joseph's 
shoulder, accompanied by Menthu, the high 
priest, and by other nobles. When he has 
reached the centre of the room the six Girls 
hurry to the entrance, to await the bride with 
flowers] 

PoTiPHAR. Friends all — I thank you. "What happi- 
ness the gods had in store they have showered upon me; 
and, not least, your loves. Shield me henceforth with 
your love against the strokes of fate. 

Menthu. Peace dwell in the land forever, that 
nought may drag thee from Zuleika's arms. 

PoTiPHAR. Great priest of Neith, the lover giveth 
thee thanks, though the soldier must upbraid thee. 

Mehtu [At the door] The bride! The bride! 

[Distant music coming nearer. All form up, to 
greet the Bride. Potiphar and Joseph are left 
alone] 

50 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

PoTiPHAR [To Joseph] Thy shoulder, boy. Her 
beauty turneth my heart to water. I am afraid of too 
great joy. 

Joseph. May the joy last forever, my lord. 

PoTiPHAR. Thou art too young — thou knowest not 
love. 

Joseph. I knew it not till I was brought hither. But 
now — 

PoTiPHAR. What ! Tell me her name — 

Joseph. A bondman can breathe no names — 

PoTiPHAR [Embracing him] Ask what thou wilt — 

Joseph [Eagerly] My lord — 

PoTiPHAR [Seeing the bridal procession] Nay! — 
Nay ! — Away ! — Zuleika ! 

[Enter Minstrels, playing upon their instruments, 
then Ladies, and, lastly, preceded by the six 
Girls, who strerv flowers before her, Zuleika, 
with AsENATH by her side, and with Wakara 
following her. Zuleika is in a magnificent 
bridal dress. She comes forward towards Poti- 
phar, but her eyes are fixed on Joseph, who is 
standing behind his master] 

Potiphar [To the minstrels] Cease your minstrelsy! 
Zuleika. My lord — 

[She bows low] 

Potiphar [To all present'] I bid you all a kind 
farewell. 

Menthu [Leading forward Asenath] Farewell, 
great warrior. 

Joseph [Motioning to the Slaves and Maidens to go. 
To Potiphar] Farewell, my lord. 

Potiphar. Ah! I am grown selfish in my joy. [To 
All] Stay, friends. 

51 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[All, on the point of going, turn^ 

Menthu. What more^ my lord? 

PoTiPHAR. When this marvel came hither, she 
brought me many gifts; but none more welcome than 
this lad, whom she had saved from death. And now, in 
the hour of love's triumph, Joseph hath told me he, too, 
is in love's thrall, but dare not speak, being a slave. 
What better gift can I give thee, Zuleika, than Joseph's 
freedom ? 

[AsENATH gives a little cry of joy^ 

Zuleika [Hardly able to restrain a cry of rage] My 
lord—! 

Joseph [Throrving himself at Potifhar's feet] 
my good lord — 

PoTiPHAR. I will load thee with gifts, and thou 
shalt go back to thine own land. 

Zuleika [Hastily] If Joseph love, perchance the 
woman he loveth is here, and, in sending him hence, 
thou art sending him from her. 

PoTiPHAR. Why, she shall go with him! 

Zuleika. Perchance she is one who cannot go. 

PoTiPHAR. How might that be.^ — Speak, Joseph, who 
is she? 

[Joseph and Asenath exchange glances] 

Joseph. Under favour, I cannot speak before all 
these. 

Zuleika [Amiable, but rvith suppressed fury] Is it 
one of my maids? 

Joseph. No, lady. 

The Six Maids [In the background, involuntarily] 
Alas, no ! 

PoTiPHAR [Laughing] Keep thy secret imtil we are 
52 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

alone. If she be as Zuleika saith^ I will importune 
Pharaoh himself^ and no bar shall hinder thee. [Lead- 
ing his guests off] Farewell ! Farewell ! — 

[All exeunt except Zuleika and Wakara] 

Zuleika [Darkly; looking after Joseph] Snatched 
from me? So? [To Wakara] Wakara — ! Hither! — 
Knowest thou whom he loveth? 

Wakara. Who^ lady? 

Zuleika [Impatiently] The slave . . . Joseph. 

Wakara. Whom else can a man love when Zuleika 
is nigh? 

Zuleika [An exclamation of triumph] Hah! — [She 
sees PoTiPHAR turning to come to her] Peace — peace — 
fool! 

PoTiPHAR [Eagerly] Zuleika! — [He sees Wakara] 
Still attended! 

Zuleika. My tiring-woman. 

PoTiPHAR [To Wakara] Perform thine office 
quickly. 

Zuleika [Raising her hands to her head] This 
heavy coronet — 

[Wakara lifts it off. Zuleika's hair streams 
loose] 

Potiphar [Amazed] Ha! Thy hair floweth out as 
the night floweth over the desert. 

Zuleika. The cloak — it crusheth me. 

[Wakara removes the cloak. Zuleika stands in a 
straight robe of gold] 

Potiphar. Bid the woman begone! 
Zuleika. No such haste, my lord. [She sits on the 
throne-like chair] Now these jewelled sandals. 

53 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Wakara removes the sandals. Zuleika's toes are 
covered with gems, and on her ankles are flashing 
anklets. 

PoTiPHAR [To Wakara] Begone, or perish! 
ZuLEiKA [With a low laugh] Go, Wakara. 

[Wakara kisses Zuleika's feet, and slips out, R. 
ZuLEiKA lies back on the couch and watches 
PoTiPHAR, who stands gazing at her with rapture. 

ZuLEiKA [With a touch of mockery] Well — ? She 
is gone my lord. 

PoTiPHAR. Forty years have I faced strange deaths, 
yet never till now knew I fear. 

ZuLEiKA. Of what is my lord af eared? 

PoTiPHAR. Of thy beauty. 

ZuLEiKA. Gaze on my beauty, till fear be fled. 

PoTiPHAR. The longer I gaze, the more will fear 
grow. [He advances a step] This mine.'' All mine.'' 
Dare I come nearer? Dare I touch thee? 

ZuLEiKA. Come nearer. Give me thy hand. 

PoTiPH\R [Sinking on his knees and seizing her 
hand] Thine is like a burning coal. 

ZuLEiKA. It is hot with shame. 

PoTiPHAR. Shame ! 

ZuLEiKA. My lord hath scorned my gift. 

PoTiPHAR. What gift have I scorned? 

ZuLEiKA [Watching him keenly] I gave my lord a 
slave. My lord hasteneth to be rid of him. 

PoTiPHAR. Joseph — ? Ah! why speak of him now? 

ZuLEiKA. Why, truly? What is one slave more or 
less, even though I gave him? 

PoTiPHAR. I thought to please thee! 

ZuLEiKA. By scorning my gift? So thou wilt soon 
scorn all I give thee. 

54 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

PoTiPHAR. Zuleika ! 

ZuLEiKA. If I give thee my love, to-morrow thou 
wilt scorn it! 

PoTiPHAR. Woman ! Thou drivest fear out of my 
heart, and fillest it with madness! 

[He tries to embrace her] 

Zuleika, Withdraw thy word from the slave! 
PoTiPHAR. That I cannot. 
Zuleika [In tears] Scorned! — I am scorned! 
PoTiPHAR [Seizing her] Scorned — ! Thou art 
loved! Thou art mine — ! Zuleika! Zuleika! 

[A trumpet call very near] 

PoTiPHAR. What now? [Heavy knocking at door, 
R.] Ha! 

[Enter Wakara with a torch] 

Wakara. The Hebrew slave — 
Potiphar [Furious] Joseph! — 

[He strides towards the door] 

Zuleika [To herself] Joseph — I [With a low 
laugh] He loveth me! 

[Enter Joseph in haste] 

Joseph. My lord! My lord! 
Potiphar. Accursed slave! What is't? 
Joseph. Alas, not my errand, my lord — 
Potiphar. Who dares, then — } 
Joseph [With a salute] Pharaoh. 
Potiphar [Startled] Pharaoh — } 
Joseph. Imhotep, the Lord Chief Butler, beareth a 
letter from Pharaoh — 

55 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

PoTiPHAR. Typho seize him! — Arouse the house- 
hold. Have him hither with all homage. 

[Eaiit Joseph. Wakara kindles hanging lamps] 

PoTiPHAR [To ZuLEiKA, indicating the door at the 
back] A plague on the marplot! Yet it were well if 
thou — 

ZuLEiKA. Oh_, let me bide; I, too, would hear the 
news. 

PoTiPHAR. 'Tis nought. [Anxiously] The gods 
grant it be nought. 

[Meanwhile the hall has filled with Potiphar's 
household. A trumpet sounds. Enter soldiers as 
guard of honour. Joseph appears at the door] 

Joseph. The Lord Imhotep, Lord Chief Butler of 
Pharaoh, the King of Kings ! 

[Enter Imhotep : a magnificent apparition. Behind 
him follow several richly clad Nobles and Offi- 
cers. All present bow their heads and raise 
their arms in obeisance. Potiphar advances in 
the same attitude] 

Potiphar. The presence of my lord sheddeth radi- 
ance through my halls. 

Imhotep. Friend, I come not of mine own will — 
Potiphar. Let thy servant hear — 

[Imhotep unwinds a piece of rich silk he is carry- 
ing, and out of it produces an earthenware case 
containing an inscribed clay tablet] 

Imhotep [With great solemnity] This from User- 
tesen, the Pharaoh, the King of the North and the 
South, the King of Kings. 

56 




ZULEIKA 

From a Drawing by Dorothy Parker 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[All present salute the letter with great reverence. 
PoTiPHAR receives it on his knees, in both hands, 
and devoutly kisses it. 

Imhotep. Read it. 

PoTiPHAR. I am a soldier and no scholar. Let 
Joseph read. 

[He hands the case to Joseph, who receives it 
with an obeisance. Joseph takes the tablet out 
of the case, and, holding it flat on the palms of 
both hands, reads: 

Joseph. To my trusted servant, the captain of my 
hosts, Potiphar, my majesty sendeth greeting. Certain 
rebellious tribes have arisen in the south, doing griev- 
ous hurt to the children of the sun. My majesty hath 
been very patient, but thereby the rebels have waxed 
proud, deeming us afraid. Now they are within two 
days' march. Wherefore my majesty biddeth thee take 
men and horses to-night and fall upon them swiftly 
and wipe them utterly from the face of the earth. 

[Zuleika's face expresses delight. Commotion 
amo7ig the bystanders] 

PoTiPHAR. The King's word shall be obeyed. 

Imhotep [Gravely] Friend, I will see thee on thy 
way. 

PoTiPHAR. That shall be to my honour: to-morrow afe 
dawn. 

Imhotep. The King's word saith to-night. 

PoTiPHAR. To-night — ! 

Zuleika [Quietly] Thus thy slave read. 

Joseph [Looking at the tablet] It is to-night. 

Potiphar [Beside himself] Hath not the King 
heard — } Doth he not know — ? 

57 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Imhotep [With grave surprise and reproof] Friend 
— the King's word is waiting — 

PoTiPHAR [Helpless] Ay — ay — I come. [With an 
outburst of fury] And when I come upon the rebels, 
the very gods of cruelty shall pity them! 

[Furiously he snatches at the weapons and armour 
his slaves hurriedly bring him. Zuleika watches 
him, demurely amused] 

Joseph. My lord, let me fight at thy side. 

[Zuleika is startled and anxious] 

PoTiPHAR [With a touch of contempt] Thou, shep- 
herd of Dothan? Nay, there shall be deeds no shep- 
herd may look upon. 

Joseph [Hotly] I fought with my brothers against 
Shechem ! 

PoTiPHAR. I have other work for thee ! — 

Joseph [With increasing heat] My lord promised — 

PoTiPHAR. I promised thee freedom — [Gently] but 
now, Joseph, I crave a boon. 

Joseph [Abashed] My lord — ! Do with me as 
thou wilt. 

PoTiPHAR. Fighters I have as the sands of the des- 
ert, but no friend I love as I love thee. Ah! thou shalt 
lose nought by granting my request. Lo ! I make thee 
lord of my household while I am at the war, and what- 
ever is mine I put in thy charge. Maidens and men, 
ye hear.f^ 

Heru. We hear and obey. 

PoTiPHAR [With his hand on Joseph's shoulder] But, 
chiefest, I commit to thy keeping the lady Zuleika. 
Joseph — Joseph — watch over her as though thou wert 
myself. 

58 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph [Innocently] As thou leavest her, my lord, 
so shalt thou find her. 

PoTiPHAR. As I leave her — ! Zuleika, I dare scarce 
look on thee again, lest I forget Pharaoh's word. 

ZuLEiKA [Putting her arm around his neck] Forget 
his word, my lord. 

PoTiPHAR [With a sort of suppressed roar] Woman! 
Woman! [Passionate embrace. He shakes himself 
loose. To Imhotep] Lead on! 

[Trumpets sound. All go out R. Potiphar 

marches out with set face, without looking round. 

ZuLEiKA stands rigid where Potiphar left her, 

Joseph waits at the door until all are gone; then 

closes it. Wakara comes soothingly to Zuleika] 

Wakara. Be comforted, sweet lady. 

Zuleika [With a note of mockery] Comforted — ! 

[She breaks into a low, mocking laugh. Then, very 

tenderly] Joseph — 

Joseph [Leaving the door] Ay, lady.^ 
Zuleika. Did Pharaoh truly write "to-night"? 
Joseph [Amused] Of a surety! 
Zuleika. Of a surety thou art very cunning. 
Joseph. Lady, good-night. 

Zuleika. Nay, come hither, and tell me of the old 
man, thy father, and of thy mother. 

Joseph. I must keep watch and ward. Sleep soundly. 
I wake! 

[He goes through the curtains into the garden. 
Zuleika watches him off] 

Zuleika [To Wakara] Open the curtains, girl. 
[Wakara does so. In the distance the tops of the Pyra- 
mids are touched with gold] Ahah — ! The blessed 
dawn! 

59 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Wakara. So soon, after so weary a night — ! 

ZuLEiKA. Fool! I am so much nearer the night to 
come! 

Wakara. Let me make fast the curtains. Sleep, 
lady, sleep. 

ZuLEiKA. Let the curtains be ! I will not sleep while 
he waketh. 

Wakara. While he waketh—? The lord Poti- 
phar — ? The lord and lover? 

ZuLEiKA [Watching Joseph, who is seen passing in 
the distance] Ay — my lover and my lord! 

[Wakara slips out, L.j leaving Zuleika watching] 
The Scene Changes 



60 



SCENE II 
POTIPHAR'S GARDEN 

PERSONS 

Joseph Ranofer 

Sebni Serseru 

A Runner Asenath 

Wakara 

Slaves 

Scene 2 — Potiphar's Garden 

It is a thick grove of sycamore, acacia, pomegranate, 
tamarisk, fig and olive. There is a vine-clad bower, R. 
Through an opening at the back the same distant view is 
disclosed as in the previous scene. The garden is 
flooded with moonlight, but there are patches of im- 
penetrable shadow. The space at the back is bathed 
in light, and great stars seem to stand out solid against 
the deep purple sky. Throughout the scene there is a 
vague impression of singing — now a man's voice, now a 
woman's — in the distance. 

Joseph, wrapped in a cloak, is giving orders to 
Sebni. Some distance away two Slaves bearing torches. 

Joseph. Are guards at all the gates? 
61 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Sebni. They are, my lord. 

Joseph. Here I myself will keep watch. 

[He dismisses Sebni with a gesture] 

Sebni [Mysteriously] My lord, — I take my life in 
my bands to speak — 

Joseph. Well? 

Sebni [Nearer] Let me whisper, my lord: — The 
lord Serseru — 

Joseph. The Lord Chief Baker — ? What of him.^ 

Sebni. He and another. 

Joseph. What other? 

Sebni. Ranofer — the treasurer — 

Joseph. What of them? 

Sebni. They are ever in close talk — my fellows have 
heard — and their talk means death — 

Joseph. To me? 

Sebni. I dare scarce breathe the name: — to Userte- 
sen, the Pharaoh. 

Joseph [Concealing his horror] Thy fellows bring 
thee broken words — and thou weavest a tale — ! 

Sebni. Let not my lord's wrath be kindled — ! 

Joseph. Get thee to thy watch. 

[As Sebni is going, he meets a Runner] 

Sebni [To Joseph] Lo! — a messenger. 

Joseph. Whence art thou? 

Runner [Saluting] From the lord Potiphar. 

Joseph [Eagerly] Quickly, thy news ! 

Runner [Producing the clay letter] My first errand 
was to Pharaoh. This for thee. 

Joseph. Ho! a torch! — [He reads: "Potiphar, 
the servant of Pharaoh, by the hand of Neb, the scribe, 
to Joseph, the son of Jacob, greeting. The rebels are 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

scattered; their treasure taken; their strongholds razed. 
I hasten homeward on the wings of love. If the runner 
reach thee at sundown give him gold and bid Zuleika 
rejoice^ for I shall be with her at dawn." [To the 
Runner] Here is gold from Potiphar — and here from 
me: for this is the best news that ever man gat. Haste 
to the lady Zuleika! [Exit Runner; to Sebni] To 
thy watch! [To the Slaves] Make ready! 

[All but Joseph exeunt] 

Joseph [In deep thought] A plot against Pharaoh's 
life — ! Oh^ it is well my lord is coming! 

Asenath's Voice [Without, singing] — 
In the scented garden I sought my love 
When I was alone with the night: 
The moon's face mocked me. 
The stars twinkled with laughter; 
But I heeded them not. 
Moon, I cried, thou seekest after the sun. 
Stars, ye seek after the moon. 
And I seek after my love. 

[She has appeared among the flowering shrubs] 

Joseph. Asenath ! . 

AsENATH. Thou heard'st my song! 

Joseph. The moon never reacheth the sun — 

Asenath. That is why her face is sometimes so 
dark. 

Joseph. The stars never reach the moon — 

Asenath. And sometimes they drop out of heaven 
for grief. 

Joseph. But Asenath hath found her love. 

Asenath. They say thy lord cometh to-morrow, and 
thou wilt be free, and I shall lose thee again. 

63 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Never again^ if I be thy love. 

AsENATH. How might that be? 

Joseph [Playfully] That I cannot tell thee, till I 
know whether I be thy love or no. 

AsENATH [Imitating him] That I cannot tell thee, 
till I know whether I be thy love or no. 

Joseph [Drawing her to him] Lie on my heart, and 
feel it beat against thine. 

AsENATH [Folding her arms about his neck] Thou 
art ray love and my life. [Joseph draws her gently 
to the bower] 

Joseph. Radiant and white art thou, as the snows on 
Mount Carmel. 

AsENATH. Radiant and strong art thou, as the sun- 
god. 

Joseph. I am lost in thee; I am dazed by thy 
beauty; I am stricken with awe by thy youth and 
innocence. [Very gently; taking her hands] Beloved 
— to-morrow — 

Asenath [Surprised] Thou boldest me afar off. 

Joseph. Let me speak of serious things. 

Asenath. Is not love a serious thing? 

Joseph. It is of love I speak. 

Asenath. I cannot hear thee so far away. 

Joseph. I cannot speak when thou art nearer. 

Asenath. Oh, speak quickly, then. 

Joseph. To-morrow at dawn my lord returneth, 
and I shall be free. My first errand will be to thy 
father. 

Asenath [Chilled] My father — ! [She moves 
away] 

Joseph. Nay, Asenath, not so far! 

Asenath. Thou hast brought broad day into our 
sheltering night. 

64 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Nay^ if thy father deny me^ Potiphar will 
go up to Pharaoh himself, and Pharaoh shall do me 
j ustice. 

AsENATH. Dreamer, dreamer, thou art in a vain 
dream. My father will have me wed Serseru, or for 
ever wait in living death on the goddess whose name 
I bear — 

Joseph. Whose name thou bearest — } 

AsENATH. What is Asenath, being interpreted, but 
one devoted to Neith.'' 

Joseph. We will give Neith her fill of bullocks and 
goats, but, by the living God, not Asenath! 

Asenath. Hush, blasphemer! Even Pharaoh cannot 
help us against the gods. The priests would rise up 
and slay him. 

Joseph. Asenath, art thou brave .f* 

Asenath. I know not. 

Joseph. Wilt thou put thy hand in mine, and take 
flight with me.'* 

Asenath. Hark ! 

Joseph. Footsteps ! 

Asenath [Seeing the newcomer] We are lost! 

Joseph. Hither! Hither! [He draws her into the 
bower and pulls some of the vine down over its entrance] 

[Enter Ranofer and Serseru. Serseru is an 
enormously fat old man] 

Ranofer. I tell thee, Menthu is determined. Ase- 
nath shall be thy wife. 

Asenath. That is Ranofer, the lord treasurer. 

Joseph [To Asenath] He speaketh too hastily. 

Serseru. I saw no hindrance till now. She cast her 
eyes down when I spake, but at least there was no loath- 
ing in them. Now — 

65 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Ranofer. What knoweth the child of love or loath- 
ing? 

AsENATH [With her arms around Joseph, her face 
against his] What knoweth she not? 

Ranofer. This she knoweth: 'tis either wed thee, or 
leave the world and serve Neith. 

Joseph [Kissing Asenath] There is a third way. 

[Enter Wakara at the back, looking for Joseph] 

Serseru. The fear of losing her weareth me to a 
shadow — 

Joseph. Say an eclipse. 

Ranofer. Plague thyself no more. — Now, as con- 
cerning Pharaoh — 

Serseru [Frightened] Lower ! Lower I 

Ranofer. Who should be stirring so late? 

Serseru. The Hebrew — Joseph — is on guard. 

Ranofer [Producing a small bojc] Here is what I 
promised thee. 

Serseru. I dare not. Imhotep, the Chief Butler, 
hath eyes like a hawk. 

Ranofer. Listen. When Pharaoh drinketh, they 
pour wine first into Imhotep's cup for him to taste. 
While he is drinking, slip this into the vessel they have 
poured from. As it toucheth the wine it is melted, and 
Pharaoh's cup will be filled with death. 

Asenath [Hiding her face on Joseph's shoulder] 
Horrible ! 

Serseru. How can I do that, unseen? 

Ranofer. Stumble against the wine-bearer. Let 
thy long sleeve pass over the vessel. 

Ranofer. Come away. 

Serseru [As they move off] When shall I do this 
thing? 

66 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Ranofer. To-morrow night, when Pharaoh is feast- 
ing Potiphar. Come. 

[Exeunt] 

AsENATH. A plot against Pharaoh! It is too hor- 
rible ! 

Joseph. Nay — the horrible thing shall not be done. 
We will outwit them. 

Asenath [Passionately] Swear I shall never be the 
murderer's wife! 

Joseph. That will I readily swear ! Get thee within ! 
Gather courage for to-morrow. 

Asenath [Mastering herself] To-morrow — Lover, 
shall we ever meet again? 

Joseph. Ay, shall we ! I kiss sleep into thine eyes, 
and a smile into thy lips, and courage into thy heart. 
[He sees Wakara] Away! 

[Asenath slips out among the trees, but not before 
Wakara has caught sight of her] 

Wakara. Joseph — Joseph ! 

Joseph. Who calleth.'' 

Wakara. 'Tis I — Wakara. 

Joseph. What is thine errand? 

Wakara. The lady Zuleika hath news of my lord's 
return. 

Joseph. I sent her the news. 

Wakara. She biddeth thee come to her, to tell her 
more. 

Joseph. There is no more to tell. 

Wakara. She commandeth thee to come. 

Joseph. Tell thy mistress I am on guard. I may 
not come. 

Wakara. Thy mistress commandeth thee, her slave. 
67 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Not hers^ but her husband's. I will not 
come. 

Wakara. I cannot carry so rough an answer. 

Joseph. Speak it gently: I have no other. 

Wakara. I will tell her. [Going, turns] And shall 
I tell thee my thought? 

Joseph. If 'twill ease thy mind. 

Wakara. I think thou art a fool! 

[Exit] 

The Scene Changes. 



68 



SCENE III 
ZULEIKA'S ROOM 

PERSONS 
Joseph Mehtu 

Zuleika Anset 

Wakara Arilennu 

Tamai Taherer 

Nesta 

Scene 3. — Zuleika's Room» 

Doors R. and L. At the back an opening through 
which only the deep sky and the wonderful stars are 
seen. The walls are painted with strange semi-human 
figures in the Assyrian manner, only vaguely discernible. 
In the centre, outlined against the opening, there is a 
mysterious gigantic figure of a goddess. Under it stands 
a tripod, from which the smoke of incense rises and 
hangs in purple clouds about the painted ceiling. There 
is a low couch covered with rich tapestries. Lilies, 
lotus-flowers, and other heavily scented flowers stand in 
costly jars. Several low tables on which are curious 
implements of magic. The room is filled with dim light 

69 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

from many-coloured and shaded lamps hanging from 
the ceiling. HeavTj tapestries conceal the doors. The 
whole scene conveys the impression that it is seen 
through a thin mist, like a scene in a dream. 

[ZuLEiKA, robed in a rich surcoat of cloth of gold 
covered with embroidered emblems of magic, her loose 
hair crowned with a diadem of dark-green stones, is 
seated in a great throne-like chair, her hands resting on 
its arms. In front of her, on a tripod made of three 
bronze serpents intertwined, is a great globe of crystal 
in which weird changing lights and colours dimly come 
and go as she speaks. Into this she stares fixedly, with 
wide eyes. Her lips move silently for a while, but at 
last her words become distinguishable.^ 

ZuLEiKA [Without moving; speaking as if uncon- 
sciously] Is love casting a veil over my soul's sight? 
What mist is this betwixt me and my beloved? I see 
him^ but he is shrouded from me. Who was with him? 
There was one with him who set his soul in a storm, so 
that I saw his image blurred, as in troubled waters. Or 
is it the storm in my soul that sets the crystal a-quiver? 
Ay ! I am taken in mine own springes ! I have laughed 
at love, and watched, laughing, the death of lovers, and 
now a vulture is tearing at my heart. [She sinks back 
in the chair] To-morrow the rough warrior returneth, 
flushed with victory. Joseph is free, and I am a slave. 
To-night, then, or never! [She leans forward again to 
gaze into the crystal] Why doth Wakara tarry? Will 
he not come? Is he coming? Clouds and night! A 
curse upon the useless toy! [She rises] At least, when 
he cometh, his heart shall flame as mine flameth now! 
[From a small cabinet she takes various ingredients. 
She crosses to the tripod under the goddess. From a 
hook on it she takes a small golden vessel which she 

70 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

places on the burning incense. From another vessel, also 
hanging on the tripod, she takes incense which she 
throws into the burner. The smoke rises thicker and 
green flames shoot through it. Then she stands with 
extended arms before the goddess^ Astarte, protectress 
of hapless women who ache with unfulfilled love, hear 
me, be near me, guide my hand as I brew the draught — 
[She throws the ingredients into the vessel; it hisses and 
sends up steam] thus ! — and thus ! and thus ! [She 
spreads her hands, palm downwards, over the vessel] 
Sear his eyes with my beauty — make his heart like pot- 
ter's clay in my hands — set an unquenchable thirst upon 
his lips — [With her thumbs touching, and palms out- 
wards, she raises her hands towards the goddess] Great 
Goddess of Love ! — Goddess of the thousand names ! — 
I call thee! — I summon thee! Fill the cup with thy 
poison. [The brew in the vessel boils over with hissings 
and splutterings, while flames dance about it; she lifts 
the vessel off the tripod] Ha! [She pours the brew 
into a golden beaker standing on one of the little tables] 
Drink this with me, lover, and let come what will! 
[Fiercely to Wakara, who enters L.] Well? 

Wakara [Throwing herself at Zuleika's feet] Dread 
Mistress 

ZuLEiKA [Eagerly] He is close at thy heels — ? 

Wakara. Hear me, lady! 

ZuLEiKA. He is coming anon, when the night is 
deeper — ! 

Wakara. He is not coming! 

ZuLEiKA. What! [After a momentary pause she 
seizes Wakara by the throat in a paroxysm of fury] 
Thou liest! Thou liest! Thou hast not borne my mes- 
sage! Wretched slave, thou hast not seen him! [Throws 
her off] Well! Speak! Speak! 

71 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Wakara. I bare the message faithfully; but he an- 
swered he must guard the house, and could not come. 

ZuLEiKA [Darkly] He must guard the house — ! 
[With a wild laugh] And the night flieth! O gods, 

how swiftly it flieth! He must come! He must 

come! — Go again 

Wakara. Alas ! What more can I say ? 

ZuLEiKA [Haughtily] Say I command my slave! 

Wakara. I said so, and he answered he was not thy 
slave, but Potiphar's. 

ZuLEiKA. He dared — ! My lord shall hear of this ! 
— Ha! ha! ha! What am I saying — ? [Suddenly, with 
ferocity] Was he alone? 

Wakara. When I spake with him, ay — but 

ZuLEiKA [Eagerly] But — ? 

Wakara. I had seen the trail of a woman's robe 

ZuLEiKA. Was it one of my women? 

Wakara. I know not. 

ZuLEiKA. Summon them all. Suddenly ! Suddenly ! 

[Wakara hurries to the door R. and cries] 

Wakara. Wake ! Wake ! Zuleika calls ! 

ZuLEiKA. What else didst thou see? 

Wakara. I saw Ranofer and Serseru slip out of the 
garden. 

Zuleika. Were they with Joseph ? 

Wakara. No. They saw him not. They were deep 
in their plot. Where he stood he must have heard every 
word. 

Zuleika. The plot against Pharaoh? Ha! Now I 
hold him ! 

[Enter the six Maidens huddling through the door- 
way. They are half awake and frightened to 
death] 

72 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 



[Together] 



Mehtu. Wakara! What is it? 

Anset. I am half clad! 

Arilennu. I am half-awake! 

Taherer. I am af eared! 

Nesta. What ails thee? 

Tamai. Why are we summoned? 

ZuLEiKA [Dazed] You! — Did I summon you? — Ay! 
Wait! [To Wakara] Thou, seek him again. Say I 
command him hither by his troth to Potiphar. Say I 
know of the plot against Pharaoh. [Struck hy a new 
idea] Say Potiphar's life is in danger! Say that! Say 
that ! Begone ! 

[Exit Wakara, R.] 

ZuLEiKA [To the maids] The mirror! 

[Nesta takes the mirror from a table] 

Mehtu. The mirror, so late! 
ZuLEiKA. Is the night so old? 
Arilennu. 'Tis but an hour ere the dawn. 
ZuLEiKA. Sayest thou so? Swiftly, then! 

[Nesta gives her the mirror] 

Taherer. But wherefore? Wherefore? 
Zuleika. Is not my lord coming at sunrise? 
Anset. Oh! That is glad news! 
Zuleika [To Tamai, whose left hand is bandaged] 
Loosen my hair. Why, what is thy wound? 

[All the girls laugh] 

Tamai [Trying to hide her hand] 'Tis nojight. This 
morning I was cutting a melon, and the knife slipped. 

[All laugh again] 

Zuleika. Why do you laugh at her hurt? 

73 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Nesta. She hath only told half the tale. 
Mehtu. She never knew she had cut herself till we 
showed her the wound. 

Tamai [In distress] Forbear! Forbear! 

[All laugh] 

ZuLEiKA. Come! What is the jest? 

Anset. She was wholly lost in gazing 

Tamai. Mercy ! Mercy ! 

ZuLEiKA [Angrily] Gazing on whom? Must I grow 
angered ? 

Taherer. On my Lord Joseph. 

ZuLEiKA [Seizing Tamai's wounded hand, rvith rage] 
Thou! 

Tamai [In agony] My hand! My hand! 

ZuLEiKA [Still holding her; fiercely] Thou wast with 
him anon in the garden ! 

Tamai [With sincere sorrorv] 1, lady — ? Alas, no! 

ZuLEiKA [With a hitter laugh] That ringeth true. 
[To the others] Which of you was it, then? 

[The girls answer with comic pathos] 

Nesta. Not I. 
Taherer. Nor I. 
Arilennu. Was he there? 

Anset. Had I known he was there 

Mehtu. I should have forestalled thee! 

[Wakara enters R.] 

Zuleika [Eagerly] Wakara! 

Wakara. He is here. 

Zuleika. Ah — ! Bid him wait! 

[Exit L. Enter Joseph, R. The girls are keenly 
interested] 

74 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Wakara [To Joseph] Thou art to wait. 

[She shuts the door behind him and stands in front 
of it] 

Mehtu [Coming up to him caressingly] Thou — 
here! 

Joseph [Courteously] Where is the lady Zuleika? 

An SET [Close to him] What matter Zuleika? — My 
name is Anset. 

Arilennu [Pushing her aside] Little he heedeth thy 
name! [She puts her head close to his] Thou shalt 
not kiss my hair. 

Joseph [Simply] God forbid! 

[Arilennu turns arvay, pouting] 

Taherer. Oh! oh! . . . Some evil thing hath flown 

into mine eye! [Putting her face up to his] I 

prithee, gentle shepherd, pluck it out! 

Nesta [To her] Here is the mirror. Pluck it out, 
thyself. [To Joseph] Heigho! I am glad I am not 
thy sister! 

Joseph [Simply] So am I. [To Tamai, who has 
stood apart, in mute adoration] Art thou hurt.'' 

Tamai [Gasping with happiness at being spoken to] 
Oh — ! It is nothing — my lord! 

Joseph. Give me thy hand. Let me see. 

Tamai [In an agony of shyness] Nay, it is nothing. 

Mehtu. The cunning wretch! 

[All the girls are furious] 

Joseph [Holding Tamai's hand] How came this cut? 
Taherer. Shall we tell him? 

Tamai [Covering her face with her hands, in a 
paroxysm of sobs] Cruel! Cruel! 

75 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[The girls surround Joseph, as if to tell him. 
Enter Zuleika, R.] 

ZuLEiKA [In the doorway] Begone! 
All the Girls [Starting away] Alas! 

[At a signal from Wakara they go out R. Wakara 
follows them] 

Tamai [Kissing the hand Joseph touched] He spake 
to me! He touched my hand! [Ejcit] 

[A pause. Joseph and Zuleika face each other. 
ZuLEiKA has taken off her crown. Her hair falls 
almost to her feet. She has thrown off her sur- 
coat and stands in a long, transparent gown of 
silver tissue. Around her waist is a golden belt 
heavily studded with great gems] 

Zuleika [In a low, musical murmur] What seekest 
thou^ son of Jacob? 

Joseph. Nay, lady; I come at thy bidding. 

Zuleika. Three moons my lord hath been at the 
wars, and thou hast avoided my presence. Is that the 
deed of a dutiful servant? 

Joseph. I hold it so. 

Zuleika. I hold it not so. Why hast thou avoided 
me? 

Joseph. My lord made me overseer of his house: I 
rest neither by day nor by night. 

Zuleika [Scornfully] I know thy zeal for thy lord. 
I ask why thou scornest me^ 

Joseph. I hold my lord's wife in highest honour. 
Tell me now what thou hadst me hither to tell me. 

Zuleika. Had I ought to tell thee? 

Joseph. Why else was I summoned? 

Zuleika. I know not. 'Twas nought. 
76 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Ay of the plot against Pharaoh. 

ZuLEiKA [Contemptuously] Oh, that!— What is their 
Pharaoh to us? 

Joseph. He is a man: therefore his life must be 
saved. 

ZuLEiKA. Is a man's life so much worth? 
Joseph. And Wakara said my lord Potiphar was in 
danger. 

ZuLEiKA. Wakara was dreaming. 
Joseph. Is that not true? Then I take my leave. 
ZuLEiKA. Wait. There was another matter. But I 
cannot remember. 

Joseph. My lord's return? 
ZuLEiKA [Indifferently] Ay, perchance. 
Joseph. All is ready. 

ZuLEHiA. Ay — thou hast toiled by day and night. 
Take this ring for reward. 

Joseph [Refusing it] I need no reward. 
ZuLEiKA. So proud and scornful — yet a slave? 
Joseph. A slave only till to-morrow; and my lord 
hath made the slavery light. 

ZuLEiKA. Oh, but I have pitied thee! For I am in 
the same case. 

Joseph. Thou ! A great lord's wife ! 

ZuLEiKA. I am alone in a strange land; as thou art. 
Joseph. My lord will be here at dawn. 
ZuLEiKA. I shall still be alone. 
Joseph. What love can bring, he bringeth. 
ZuLEiKA. Ay — he! [With intention] But I? 
Joseph. Why did'st thou come, if thou lovest him 
not? 

ZuLEiKA. Did I come of mine own will? Was I not 
sold hither by my kin— as thou wert? I tell thee^ thou 
and I should cling together! 

77 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Lord Potiphar is kind. 

ZuLEiKA. Kind — ^kind — ! But is that love.'* Is that 
freedom ? 

Joseph. He hath promised me freedom to-morrow. 

ZuLEiKA. And so I lose the only friend 

Joseph. I should have remembered^ and left that 
unsaid. 

ZuLEiKA [Very tenderly] Thou goest hence to thy 
father and thy mother; to Reuben whom thou lovest — 
to all the dear^ familiar things of thy childhood. But I 
abide here; a loveless wife, rent from her gods and her 
kin ; doomed to dwell among strange faces forever. 

Joseph [Earnestly] I pity thee. 

ZuLEiKA. Ah! The word is music in mine ear! 

Come nearer nearer — give me thy hand — sit beside 

me say thou pitiest me again. Forget thy bondage. 

We are alone. The house is hushed. Say, Zuleika, I 
pity thee. 

Joseph [Moved] From my heart I pity thee. 

ZuLEiKA. Nay, but speak as I bade thee. 

Joseph. I pity thee, Zuleika. 

ZuLEiKA. Ah! My name on thy lips! When did I 
last hear such music? 

Joseph. Now let mo go. The lilies and incense stifle 
me. 

Zuleika [TaJces the cup containing the philtre, and 
bends over him] A cooling draught — drink to thy free- 
dom and mine. 

Joseph [Putting it gently aside] It is not fitting 
the slave should drink with his mistress. 

Zuleika. Drink ! Drink ! 

Joseph [Gazing at her half in fear] Thy body bent 
over me — ! Where before have I seen such sinuous 
grace } 

78 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

ZuLEiKA. Touch the cup with thy lips 



Joseph. Away! My senses reel already! 
[The vessel is upset] 

ZuLEiKA [With involuntary violence] Hapless wretch! 
What hast thou done? 

Joseph. Forgive me. Farewell. 

ZuLEiKA. Nay, I am not angered. Nay, thou shalt 
not go. Art thou not in some sort mine? I saved thee 
from horrible death. 

Joseph. I have not forgotten. 

ZuLEiKA. I fear I saved thee to my sorrow, for thou 
art glad of thy freedom. Why art thou so glad? 

Joseph. Is not every man glad of that? 

ZuLEiKA. But thine eyes blaze at the word! 
[Fiercely] Is there a maid who waiteth for thee in 
Shechem? [She clasps her hands about his th7'oat] Lo! 
I would lock my fingers about her throat as I lock them 
about thine, and press the life out of her ! 

Joseph. The clinging touch about my throat ! Where 
have I felt it before? 

ZuLEiKA. The maid ! The maid ! Tell me her name, 
that I may send out a spell and wither her ! 

Joseph. There is no such maid in Shechem. 

ZuLEiKA. Why should I heed her? Why should I 
be glad there is none ? Alas, can'st thou not guess why ? 
— Nay, answer not, lest thou put me to shame ! — Yet, if 
no maid await thee, thou knowest not love, and thou 
can'st not guess half my sorrow in bondage. 

Joseph. Wert thou torn from one thou lovest? 

ZuLEiKA. Nay — but one I love is torn from me. 

Joseph. That is a riddle 

ZuLEiKA [She is now in his arms on the couch] 
Can'st thou not read the riddle, foolish boy? Oh, see 

79 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

how his cheek burns with anger, when I call him foolish ! 
What? Is my hair hot on thy face? Sweep it back! 
Nay, boldly ! Ho ! Its weight bendeth my head. 

[She twines her arms about his neck and lays her 
head on his breast] 

Joseph. It gleams and glitters — where else have I 
seen that glittering gleam? 

ZuLEiKA. Look into mine eyes. 

Joseph. Thine eyes ! Thine eyes ! Where else have 
I seen that lambent flame? 

ZuLEiKA. Thine eyes burn into mine. [She puts both 
her hands over his eyes. He sinks back] I veil them 
with my cool hands. 

Joseph. That touch — ! Where else have I felt it? 

ZuLEiKA. Thy lips are parched — 

Joseph. I thirst! — I thirst! 

ZuLEiKA. Drink — beloved ! 

[She bends over him and kisses him long on the 
lips. Suddenly , rvith a cry of intense horror, he 
breaks away from her] 

Joseph. The serpent's kiss ! Hah ! Now I remem- 
ber ! Thy sinuous limbs — I saw them in the well ! — Thy 
shimmering hair — so the serpents shone as they writhed ! 
— Thy flaming eyes — so theirs flamed in the darkness ! — 

Thy fingers about my throat so they coiled about 

me! 

ZuLEiKA [Approaching him, amazed] Beloved, thou 
art frenzied! 

Joseph. Ay — and my frenzy hath dragged me to 
shame! How can I do this great wickedness, and sin 
against God? 

80 




Courtesy of LiebUr atid Co7npany, N. Y. 

JOSEPH AND ZULEIKA 

Act II— Scene III 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

ZuLEiKA [Violently, seizing him by the arm] What 
is thy God to me ? I cling to thee ! I clutch thee ! 
Joseph. Farewell ! 

[He dashes out. Zuleika is on her knees clutching 
the cloak he has left in her hand. After a 
moment's stupor she rises to her full height. 
She raises her hands, grasping the cloak in her 
left hand and her dagger in her right, to the 
goddess] 

Zuleika. Smite him, thou ! Slay him ! Art thou a 
goddess and can'st not blast him? [With a sudden 
revulsion she clasps the cloak to her breast] Nay! I 
love thee! I love thee! [She sinks on the couch in a 
frenzy, and stabs and slashes the cloak with her dag- 
ger] I would this were thy heart! I would I had let 

thee rot in thy well! [Another change] Thy lips! 

Thy lips ! [She presses the cloak frantically to her 
lips] 

The Scene Changes 



81 



SCENE IV 

THE SAME SETTING AS SCENE I 

THE CENTRAL HALL IN POTIPHAR'S HOUSE 

PERSONS 

Joseph Zuleika 

Potiphar Wakara 

Heru Tamai 

Ani Mehtu 

Tehuti Anset 

Menthu Arilennu 

Imhotep Taherer 

Nesta 

Scene 4 — The same setting as Scene 1 

Dawn. Excited turmoil of Slaves, etc. The speakers 
arrive by different entrances in joyful agitation; hut the 
door at the bach remains shut. Blare of trumpets. 
Confused murmur, as of a great crowd without. 

Heru [Entering] The people rush hither to see him ! 
82 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Mehtu [Rushing in from the garden] What mean 
the trumpets? 

Ani. My lord returneth in triumph. 

Tehuti. Summon your mistress. 

Anset. What is't? What is't? 

Sebni. Pharaoh himself went forward to meet him. 

Arilennu. My lover is with him ! 

Taherer. And mine! He will bring gifts. 

Sebni. Where is my lord Joseph .f* 

Nesta [To Tamai, who comes in sadly] Why art 
thou not merry .^ 

Atha. Joseph should be glad to-day. He winneth 
his freedom. 

Tamai [To Nesta] Those ye love come; he I love 
goeth. 

Heru. Lo! My lord Joseph! 

[Enter Joseph, richly rohed] 
Joseph. Hail your lord! 

[Frantic cries of joy rvithout. Trumpets. The 
characters on the stage arrange themselves to 
greet Potiphar. But always the door at the 
back is left conspicuous] 

[Enter Potiphar, in his war-dress. Behind him 
come Nobles, Soldiers and Ladies. A great 
shout goes up from all on the stage; weapons are 
brandished; wild enthusiasm. Joseph prostrates 
himself before Potiphar] 

Potiphar. A fair greeting! [He raises Joseph and 
presses him to his heart] Rise, rise, dear youth. [He 
looks round, amazed] Zuleika? 

Joseph. All is well with her, my lord. 

Potiphar [Impatiently] But why not here? 
83 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. The night is scarce spent- 



PoTiPHAR [Amazed] She sleepeth — ? [To the 
maids] Arouse her. 

[Tamai goes to the door at the back; tries it; 
knocks; leans against it, listening. Meanwhile] 

PoTiPHAR. Behold! Joseph, that was my bondman, 
is free. If he will abide with us, I will raise him to 
great honour! but if not, he shall go hence, burdened 
with gifts. [He takes off his golden chain and puts it 
on Joseph's neck] And, for a beginning, wear this 
chain for my sake. 

Joseph. My gracious lord — ! Ha! the chain is a 
token of freedom! 

PoTiPHAR [Turning to Tamai, impatiently] Well? 
Well.?— Zuleika? 

Tamai, The door is fast, my lord. There is a noise 
of weeping within — 

PoTiPHAR. Of weeping? — Joseph — ! Fear grippeth 
my heart! [To Tamai] Knock loudly. 

[Tamai beats against the door. Then listens. All 
are intently watching the door] 

Tamai. I hear the rustle of her robes 

PoTiPHAR [Advancing one step towards the door] 
Zuleika— ! 

[The door slowly opens. Zuleika crouches in the 
embrasure. She has covered herself from head 
to foot in a black veil under which her silver 
dress gleams. Her hair falls disordered about 
her. Her face is very white. She brings 
Joseph's cloak in her hand. Her arms are bare, 
she has stripped off all her jewels. A gasp of 
84 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

amazement and foreboding goes up from the 
Crowd] 

PoTiPHAR [Voiceless, staggering towards her] 
Zuleika! 

ZuLEiKA [In dull, holloTv tones] Come no nearer — 
touch me not — till thou hast avenged 

All [Amazed, in a whisper] Avenged — ? 

[Joseph is as much amazed as the others] 

PoTiPHAR [Creeping towards her; in a whisper] 
Whatis't? [Then, fiercely] What is't? 

Zuleika [With her eyes fixed on Joseph] The He- 
brew servant 

PoTiPHAR [As if he had received a blow] Joseph — ! 

[Joseph starts, but at once masters himself] 

Zuleika [Continuing] Came in unto me to mock 
me 

PoTiPHAR [Turns, leaps with a murderous face to- 
wards Joseph; some of the bystanders try to restrain 
him; in a horrible voice] Hold me not! [He stops 
short] Nay — too swift — too gentle! [He watches 
Joseph, who stands peffectly still, like a crouching 
tiger, and speaks without taking his eyes off him] 
Speak, woman!— Tell all! Tell all! 

Zuleika. I lifted up my voice and cried, and he fled 
and got him away — 

PoTiPHAR [In a low growl] He fled and got him 
away — [Violently] Is it tl'ue? Is it true? 

Zuleika. He left his garment with me. Know now, 
whether it be his or no. 

[She has come down in front of Potiphar. She 
flings the cloak at his feet. With a cry of rage 
he crushes it under foot] 
85 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

PoTiPHAR. Strip him! 

[Heru and Ani tear off Joseph's rohe. He is 
dressed in a long, white gown] 

[PoTiPHAR comes up to him, wrenches the chain 
from his neck, and, with the broken ends, lashes 
him across the face. Shudder among the Crowd. 
Tamai gives a great cry, and sinks sobbing to 
her knees. Joseph stands quite passive. Zuleika 
watches with a smile] 

PoTiPHAR. Away with the cur! Lest I defile my 
hands ! 

[Joseph is hurried out; the men in the crowd spit 
on him as he passes] 

PoTiPHAR [To Zuleika, but without looking at her; 
in a voice of horrible anticipation] Thou — thou — is 
there more? 

Zuleika [With a magnificent gesture, displaying the 
dagger in her hand] Should I be on life? 

PoTiPHAR [With a great cry of joy] Zuleika! [He 
falls at her feet, and kisses the hem of her gown] 

Curtain 



86 



ACT III 

THE DREAMS 

Genesis XXXIX; XL; XLI 

SCENE I 
IN THE PRISON 



PERSONS 

Enenkhet, Captain of the Prison 

Imhotep 

Serseru 

An Officer 

A Soldier 

Joseph 

Zuleika 

Asenath 

Soldiers 



ACT III 
Scene 1 — The Yard of the Prison 

It is an angular space, carved out of the face of a 
lofty sandstone cliff, the top of rvhich is out of sight. 
The three cells are cut in the cliff itself and are closed 
hy heavy bronze doors. On the right, where the cliff 
leaves off, the yard is protected by a lofty wall built of 
massive blocks of stone. In this is a lofty but very 
narrow door. Beyond the wall nothing but sky is 
visible. The whole face of the cliff has been carved 
with elaborate hieroglyphics. In the pavement of the 
yard there is a movable stone, the entrance to an under- 
ground dungeon. 

It is toward sunset, and during the scene the light 
changes, creeping up the face of the cliff, through all 
the marvelous gradations of an Eastern afterglow, and 
merging ultimately into soft but brilliant moonlight. 

At the rise of the curtain a soldier is leaning on his 
spear, crooning a love-song. The door in the wall opens 
and enter the Captain of the Prison, Enenkhet — a 
stout, good-natured person. He leaves the door open. 

Enenkhet. Is all well with the prisoners? 

Soldier. Ay, captain. Though the Lord Serseru 
hath howled all day like a dog. 

Enenkhet. Ha! The Lord Chief Baker hath a 
soured and discontented nature. 

89 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Soldier. The Lord Imhotep hath called on the 
names of his wife and children. 

Enenkhet. Few men know when they're best off. 
How many there be who would gladly be shut away for 
a space from domestic plagues ! — Well^ and the Hebrew ? 

Soldier. He hath sung of the glory of his God. 

Enenkhet. There's a man after my own heart. Get 
thee to the outer post: I will have speech with the 
prisoners. 

[The soldier exit, R. Enenkhet unbolts the 
doors of the cells, stands in the centre of the 
stage facing the cliff and cries] 

Enenkhet. Sons of mischance, come forth! The 
hour is toward sunset. Come forth and breathe the cool 
of the evening. 

[The door of one of the cells slides back, and 
Serseru emerges. He is a pitiable object. His 
flesh hangs loosely about him; his hair is long and 
tangled; his beard is wild; his clothes are in rags. 
He is heavily chained] 

Serseru. At last! At last! — Oh, the horror of that 
black hole! 

Enenkhet. Thou art hard to please. Greater 
rogues than thou have lived in it — ay, and died in it. 

Serseru. That is why it is full of disquieting 
dreams. 

Enenkhet. Well, now, I should have thought they 
would have helped to pass the time. 

[The next cell has opened and Imhotep issues. 
He, too, is in rags, but preserves his personal 
dignity. He, too, wears chains] 
90 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Imhotep. Why will ye not let me die in peace? 

Enenkhet. Here, my lord? Where none could be 
witness? Would you cheat the people of a holiday? 

Imhotep. What have I done, that I should be torn 
from my wife and children and put away in this foul 
den? 

Enenkhet. That is for the judge to say. 

Imhotep. There was no poison in the cup I drank 
from. 

Enenkhet. But when Pharaoh handed the cup to 
his physician — having been warned 

Serseru. Who warned him? Who warned him? 

Enenkhet. Then the cup was full of poison. 

Imhotep [Furiously, to Serseru] Thou had'st the 
cup after me! 

Serseru. Thou liest! I touched it not. My sleeve 
brushed against it. 

Imhotep. Thy sleeve was poisoned! 

Serseru. Would I could crush thee with these chains ! 

Enenkhet. Sirs, sirs, this is unseemly. What! 
Great lords wrangling ! Fie, sirs, ye shall back to your 
cells. 

Serseru [With abject horror'] Not to those dreams! 

Imhotep. Not to that darkness ! It is peopled with 
visions. 

Enenkhet [Cheerily] Folks do say men see visions 
when they are about to die. 

[The third cell opens, and Joseph appears on the 
threshold. He wears a tunic of cameVs-hair, 
and is girdled with a rope. He is not chained] 

Joseph [With uplifted arms] I praise God for the 
light. I praise God for the sweet air. I praise God for 
His mercies! 

91 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Enenkhet. Now, that's talking! Why cannot ye be 
content as he is? 

[Serseru and Imhotep have sought remote parts 
of the yard and are sitting gloomily buried in 
thought] 

Joseph. I thank thee, good Captain, for thy merci- 
ful dealing. 

Enenkhet. Heh! I have a tender heart. 

Joseph [To Imhotep] Friend, look how the cliff is 
transfigured in the sunset! 

Imhotep. Let me be. 

Joseph. How is it with thee, Lord Serseru? 

Serseru. Curse thee for asking. 

Joseph [To Enenkhet] What aileth them? 

Enenkhet. Nothing. Bad dreams at the most. 

Joseph [To Imhotep, very gently] Wherefore look 
ye so sadly to-day? 

Imhotep. I have dreamed a dream, and there is no 
interpreter of it. 

Joseph. Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell 
me thy dream, I pray thee. 

Imhotep. In my dream, behold, a vine was before 
me; and in the vine were three branches: and it was as 
though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the 
clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: and Pha- 
raoh's cup was in my hand; arid I took the grapes, and 
pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into 
Pharaoh's hand. 

Enenkhet [To Joseph] Make what thou can'st of 
that! 

[Joseph stands a moment in the attitude of prayer. 
Then a shudder seems to shake him, and he 
speaks as one in a trance] 
92 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. This is the interpretation of it: The 
branches are three days: yet within three days shall 
Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy 
place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his 
hand after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 

Imhotep [Falling at Joseph's feet] Oh, friend, thou 
hast filled my heart with joy! 

Joseph. But think on me when it shall be well with 
thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make 
mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this 
house: for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of 
the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that 
they should put me into the dungeon. 

Imhotep. By thy God and my gods I swear, not a 
day shall pass, but I will have thee forth with great 
honour. 

Joseph [Gravely] Remember that. 

Enenkhet [To Joseph] I shall grieve for the loss 
of thee. 

[Serseru has listened intently and has crept up to 
Joseph. He plucks Joseph's tunic, and speaks 
with unctuous humility] 

Serseru. My lord — the interpretation was good — I 
also have dreamed — give me comfort. 

Joseph [Sternly] Conscience alone can give com- 
fort; but speak. 

Serseru. I also was in my dream, and, behold, I 
had three white baskets on my head; and in the upper- 
most basket there was all manner of bakemeats for 
Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket 
upon my head. 

[Enenkhet is about to speak, but Joseph restrains 
him with a stern gesture] 
93 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph [Gravely] This is the interpretation thereof: 
The three baskets are three days. Yet within three days 
shall Pharaoh lift up thine head from off thee, and 
shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy 
flesh from off thee. 

Serseru [Furious, foaming at the mouth, tries to 
strike Joseph with his manacles] Base Hebrew, thou 
liest! 

Enenkhet [Seizing him] Hold! Hold! 

Joseph. Let be! — He knoweth well I speak truth. 

Serseru [With a wild laugh] Why should I heed his 
idle talk? What knoweth he, more than I know? 

Joseph [Sternly] Is not that enough? 

Serseru. We shall see ! — We shall see ! [ With his 
fists close to Joseph's face] And when I am restored to 
my place, it is thou shalt hang ! 

[A trumpet sounds without, R.] 
Enenkhet. Hark — ! 

[The door R. opens. Enter Soldiers, led by an 
Officer, who brings a clay letter which he hands 
to Enenkhet] 

Officer. From the King of Kings I 

Enenkhet [Saluting] May the King live forever. 
[He glances at the letter and points to Imhotep and 
Serseru] These be the twain. 

Imhotep. Captain, what is't? 

Enenkhet. Ye go to the King's palace for your 
trial. 

Imhotep [With joy] At last! The truth shall shine 
forth! 

Serseru [Wildly] I will not go! I will die here! — 
I will die! [He rushes into his cell and tries to close 
the door] 

94 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Enenkhet. Drag him forth^ and away with him! 

Joseph [To Enenkhet] Is there no word for me? 

Enenkhet. Nay, I thank the gods thou art left to 
me. [To Imhotep, who is being led off] Farewell. 
Good fortune attend thee. 

Joseph [At the door, to Imhotep] Remember — ! 

Imhotep [Embracing him] If I forget, may the 
gods do so to me, and more also ! 

[The soldiers take him out, R. The door is closed] 

Joseph [Looking after them] So they go — the one 
to freedom, and high honour; the other to a shameful 
death! — and I almost wish I were either of them! 

Enenkhet. No thought of me, as usual. Do not I 
love thee ? Have I not been a kind taskmaster .f* Yea ! 
Beyond my duty. For I was bidden to throw thee into 
our nethermost dungeon — [Stainps on the stone] here! 
And daily the Lady Zuleika cometh to ask whether thou 
be dead. But I have kept thee warm, and dry, and fed 
thee, and loved thee, and all the thanks I get 

Joseph [Putting his arm around Enenkhet's shoul- 
der] Forgive me, friend. What thou could'st thou hast 
done. And I will do so to thee and more also when I 
am freed. But thou can'st not give me freedom nor 
the sight of my love. 

Enenkhet. Who knoweth.^ If thou wert not so 
ungrateful, who knoweth what I might do? 

Joseph [Eagerly] Thou would'st let me see Ase- 
nath? Speak with her? 

Enenkhet. I said not I would. I said, who 
knoweth 

Joseph [Excitedly; coaxing Enenkhet] Thou 
golden gaoler — ! Thou — what shall I call thee? 

Enenkhet. Call me friend 

95 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. Friend! Friend! — when shall I see her? 
Enenkhet [Sulkili/] Thou art not thinking of me at 

all ; but of this bit of a girl 

Asenath's Voice [Without, R., singing] — 
In the desert places I sought my love. 
When I was alone with the night, 
Joseph. Asenath ! 

ASENATH 

The frowning rocks cried, He seeth thee not — 

The waste of sand sighed, He heareth thee not — 

But I took no heed. 

Rocks, I answered, He heareth my voice — 

Desert, he knoweth I remember — 

And that shall gladden his heart! 

Joseph [Through her song] She hath come — ! Ah! 
but the locked door! — Ah! but the cruel wall! 

Enenkhet. I knew she was coming 

Joseph. She is within arm's length — and I cannot 
reach out my hand to touch her — ! I can say no word to 
comfort her! 

Enenkhet. Thou can'st not go forth to her — ^but 
what if she came to thee? 

Joseph [Taking him by the shoulder; wildly excited] 
Would'st thou do this? 

Enenkhet. I am a fool, but I love thee. I believe 
thee guiltless. And, then, I was young once and I 
know how I should have felt, had I been locked from 
the girl I loved. Well, we're married, and there are 
fourteen children [During this speech he has un- 
locked the door, R. He peers out] Hist! — into the 
shadow — here cometh the guard! 

[By this time night has fallen. The afterglow has 
crept to the summit of the cliff, the level of the 
96 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

stage is almost pitch darJc. Joseph gets into the 
remotest corner. As Enenkhet opens the door, 
R., wide, the Soldier appears without] 

Soldier. Is all well? 

Enenkhet. All is well. Pass on. [The soldier 
passes on. Enenkhet turns to Joseph] Lie close! 
She cometh. I leave the door ajar. [He slips out] 
Asenath^s Voice [Singing] — 

Beloved, what though I seek in vain. 
Thou knowest 

[The Voice ceases abruptly. The figure of a 
Woman, covered from head to foot in a purple 
veil, appears in the doorway. The scene is 
flooded with soft moonlight, so that it is nearly 
as light as day] 

Joseph [Coming slowly forward] Thou — ! Thou — ! 
Asenath ! I dare scarce move, lest the vision van- 
ish — ! Is it thou.^ — Dare I think it? — Thou knowest 
me guiltless? Speak! Speak! [She stretches her arms 
out towards him; he hurries to her and sinks at her feet. 
At the same moment another figure, swathed in a black 
veil, appears within the door] I love thee! I worship 
thee ! What other woman could have power over me ? I 
clasp thy knees ! I have longed for thee, day and 
night! Ah! touch me! Draw me up to thee! [She 
does so] Nearer to thy heart! Nearer to thy lips! 
The lips I have thirsted for ! 

The Figure in the Door [With a wailing cry] Oh 
me — ! [She vanishes] 

Joseph [Startled, holding the figure at arm's length] 
Who spake ? — Asenath's voice — not thine ! — What double 
vision is this? [With a horrible suspicion] Who art 

97 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

thou? Who art thou? [He tears the purple veil arvay — 
ZuLEiKA stands before him, menacing, terrible, clad in 
scarlet silk from head to foot, a golden serpent crowning 
her loose hair; he starts away with a cry of horror] 
Zuleika ! 

ZuLEiKA [Begins very quietly, but very intensely] 
Fool ! Did'st thou think a woman scorned was so easily 
appeased? Did'st thou think thy freedom, or thy life, 
was enough to atone? Thy life is nothing — thy free- 
dom is nothing. Here thou shalt rot, knowing Asenath 
thinks thee a traitor, and knowing her misery. Here 
thou shalt eat thy heart out, knowing Asenath is the 
plaything of my hate ! And when I choose to free thee, 
thou shalt come forth^ a broken man, to find Asenath 
dead! 

Joseph. Thinkest thou the Living God hath given 
such power into thine hands? Thou can'st torture me 
to-day and to-morrow. Thou can'st torture Asenath to- 
day and to-morrow. [Terrible] But what of the next 
day? God is very patient; but when He moveth His 
finger thou shalt be withered as a leaf in the drought ! — 
I scorn thee not; I fear thee not! — I — pity thee! 

Zuleika. Ho ! Guard ! 

[Enter Enenkhet and Soldiers] 

Enenkhet [Amazed] The lady Zuleika — ! [He 
throws himself at her feet] 

Zuleika [To the soldiers] Lift the stone — ! 

[Passing two spears through the ring of the stone 
four Soldiers lift it with great difficulty] 

Zuleika [To Enenkhet] Who bade thee give the 
slave his freedom ? — Into the nethermost pit with him or 
Pharaoh shall hear of it! 

98 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Two soldiers seize Joseph and lead him towards 
the hole] 

ZuLEiKA. Hah! Joseph! Call upon thy God! 
Joseph. He is with me! 

The Scene Changes 



99 



SCENE II 
IN THE PALACE 
PERSONS 
Pharaoh (Usertesen I.) 1st Physician 

Imhotep 



Tehuti 

Enenkhet 

Menthu 

Dedefre, a Noble 

Atha 

Iri, a Soothsayer 



2d Physician 

PesbeSj a Dwarf 

Joseph 

Zuleika 

Asenath 

Shepset 

Ansu, a Magician 



Khenen 



Nobles, Warriors, Priests, Soothsay e is. Magicians, 
Ladies, Procession of Maidens, People, Slaves. 

Scene 2 — The Great Hall in Pharaoh's Palace 

A forest of huge columns, lotus-shaped, and towering 
almost out of sight, supports the roof, which is made of 

100 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

mighty slabs of stone laid flat from column to column. 
The central aisle is open at the back, and beyond it is 
a long avenue of sphinxes facing each other, and ending 
in a great temple. The side aisles seem protracted end- 
lessly, and the light under them gets dimmer as the 
distance increases, until it finally becomes a greenish 
mystery. 

On the left, in front, Pharaoh's throne is raised upon 
a platform to which seven steps ascend. 

The columns are covered with hieroglyphics in bright 
colours. The floor is hidden under rich carpets and 
rugs. There are incense-burners at the foot of every 
pillar. 

The light at the back, outside the hall, is dazzling 
white. The central aisle is full of rich amber sunlight; 
the side aisles are in shadow. Outside the hall there is 
a constant passing to and fro of the traffic of a city. 
Now a noble rides up on a charger, followed by his 
slaves, who help him to dismount, and he enters the 
hall; then a richly clad Lady is led on in a chariot drawn 
by horses, and as she descends an admiring Crowd 
gathers round her. Presently a procession of Priests 
moves by, chanting. A Chieftain from a distant prov- 
ince rides up on a camel, followed by his bodyguard of 
armed Retainers. 

Within the hall Nobles and Ladies are assembled. 
Some are moving about; some seated on low chairs; some 
are playing dice; some are obviously flirting. 

There is a continuous sound of vague music through- 
out the act. 

Shepset. How fareth great Usertesen, the Pharaoh^ 
to-day ? 

Dedefre, His brow hangeth heavy. 
101 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Shepset. Shall we see him? 

Dedefre. Ay^ anon. He cometh to receive the inter- 
pretation of his dreams from the priests. 

Khenen. How fareth the King's little son? 

Dedefre. I know not; but the Queen, they say, is 
nigh her hour. 

Atha. The gods have turned their faces from 
Egypt. 

Shepset [Seeing Priests passing in procession at the 
back] The priests — ! Are they about to offer sacrifices 
for the Queen? 

Atha. Nay, lady Shepset; know ye not? To-day 
is solemn festival yonder [Pointing to temple at the 
back] in the temple of Neith. 

Shepset. What festival? 

Atha. Asenath, the high-priest's daughter, enters the 
sisterhood of the goddess. 

Khenen. Ay — ay — I heard she had some disap- 
pointment in love. 

Dedefre. She was to have wed Serseru. 

Atha. But he was hanged. 

Dedefre. Ay, but that was not the disappointment. 

Khenen [Striking him with her fan] What then, 
thou malicious gossip? 

Atha. She was in love with some stranger — they do 
say he was a slave. 

Shepset. Fie! Fie! 

Atha. But he died in prison. 

Khenen [With a sneer] Poor Asenath is not for- 
tunate in her lovers. 

Shepset. I suppose we get the lovers we deserve. 

Khenen. Is that brawny Ethiopian still of thy 
household ? 

Shepset. Ay. Would'st thou buy him? 
102 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Meanrvhile the hall has gradually filled with 
Priests, Magicians, Soothsayers, Nobles and 
Ladies] 

[Enter Tehuti, jR., in robes of state, preceded by 
four Trumpeters] 

Dedefre. Lo! Tehuti! Pharaoh approacheth. 

[As the Trumpeters reach the inner aisle, they 
blow a long flourish. [In unison] The Crowd 
fall into a sort of rough order] 

Tehuti. Behold, Usertesen, the Pharaoh, King of 
the South, King of the North, King of Kings, draweth 
near. On your faces all! Hail the King! 

[Meanwhile a band of Soldiers has marched across 
the stage in quick time and taken up a position 
behind the throne] 

[Notv Pharaoh enters; an imposing, awe-striking 
figure. Nobles follow him; two with great palm- 
fans. He strides majestically up the steps of 
the throne, taking no notice of the Crowd. He 
sits on the throne. His hands rest on his knees; 
his face is set; he looks straight before him. 
Meanwhile the crowd murmurs with a sort of 
subdued awe] 

Crowd. Long life to Pharaoh! Hail, Pharaoh! — 
May the King live forever! 

[As soon as Pharaoh is seated the Crowd rises, 
and quietly sorts itself out into its component 
parts, so that for a moment the stage is a be- 
wildering kaleidoscope. Then the Priests, the 
Magicians, the Soothsayers, the Soldiers, the 
Nobles, the Ladies, etc., are in separate groups, 
103 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Pesbes, the DwARF^ comes and sits on the lowest 
step of the throne. The Nobles who came in 
with Pharaoh are in a small knot immediately 
on the left of the throne. Among these is Imho- 
TEP. Behind him are four young Slaves, one 
with a basket of grapes, one with a golden cup, 
one with a golden dish, and one with a napkin] 

[Great painted curtains are drawn at the back so 
that the hall is enclosed] 

[When the Crowd is in order, there is a moment of 
solemn pause, while all eyes are turned on 
Pharaoh] 

Pharaoh [Without moving] Tehuti. 

[Tehuti steps forward and prostrates himself] 

Pharaoh. My soul is heavy. [Movement among the 
Crowd] Are the priests and sages here as I com- 
manded ? 

Tehuti. O, King, they await thy word. 

Pharaoh. Let the priests send their spokesman. 

[Tehuti crosses slowly to the group of Priests] 

Pharaoh. I thirst. 

[Imhotep steps forward. The four young Slaves 
follow him and kneel. Standing in front of the 
throne, Imhotep takes a large bunch of grapes 
in both hands and presses its juice into the 
golden cup, which the other slave holds aloft. 
Imhotep throws the skins into a golden dish 
brought by the third slave, and dries his hands 
on the napkin brought by the fourth slave. The 
Slaves retire. Imhotep takes the cup in both 
hands, faces Pharaoh, and sets the cup to his 
104 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

lips. Then he goes up the steps and places the 
cup in Pharaoh's hands. Pharaoh drinks, 
hands the cup back to Imhotep, who retires, 
backward, to his place, where he returns the cup 
to the cup-bearer] 
Tehuti. Will it please the King to hear Menthu, 
the high-priest of Neith? 

[Pharaoh makes a gesture of assent. Menthu 
steps forward] 
Pharaoh. Thou, too, art in sorrow to-day, for thou 
losest thy daughter, Asenath. 

Menthu. The great goddess, Neith, will reward me 
tenfold. 

Pharaoh [With a touch of contempt] Well — ! Thou 
and the others, have ye besought the gods.^ Have ye 
searched your books? Have ye prayed and offered 
sacrifice } 

Menthu. All these things have we done. 
Pharaoh. My dreams, then.^ What is the inter- 
pretation thereof.'* He who can interpret the meaning 
of them shall have his wishes granted as they issue from 
his lips. [Movement in the Crowd] But he who is 
able to read dreams and neglects my bidding shall 
surely die. [Movement] Speak, Priest of Neith. 

[The Crowd instinctively presses forward almost 
imperceptibly to hear] 

Menthu. This is the interpretation. Seven Kings 
shall arise over Egypt, and seven princes shall destroy 
the seven Kings 

[While he is speaking a murmur goes up from the 
Magicians and Soothsayers, implying that 
Menthu's interpretation is hopelessly wrong] 
105 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Pharaoh. Wherefore do ye murmur? Ansu, the 
magician^ speak! 

[Ansu comes forward. He carries a long rvand] 

Menthu [Furious] Am I dismissed, O King? 

Pharaoh. I think Pesbes, the dwarf, would have 
spoken better sense. 

Pesbes [With a cackling laugh] Or had the sense 
to hold my peace! 

[Menthu goes back among the Priests, in a rage] 

Ansu. The priest of Neith is wise; but in this matter 
his wisdom is clouded. 

[Angry murmur from the Priests] 

Pharaoh. How dost thou read the dream? 

Ansu [Draws cabalistic signs on the floor with his 
wand; a circle, and, within it, two triangles] O King, 
live forever. In the days to come thou shalt marry 
seven queens, and they shall die while thou livest. And 
thou shalt beget fourteen children 

[Pharaoh si7iks back in disgust. The Priests and 
Soothsayers break into subdued laughter] 

Pesbes. Thou must indeed live forever, O King! 

[The Crowd laughs — respectfully. Iri, the 
Soothsayer, strides forward] 

Iri. Is it given to me to speak, O King? 
Pharaoh. Speak, Iri, the Soothsayer. 
Iri. The foolishness of Ansu is greater than the fool- 
ishness of Menthu. 

[Ansu retires, with a gesture of disgust] 
Iri. Behold! We only know the true answer. 
106 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Pharaoh. If it be no better than theirs^ thou diest — ■ 
with them. 

[The Priests and Magicians are petrified with 
fear: Pesbes, delighted] 

Iri. We have consulted the stars. It is declared 
that no man hath ever dreamed such dreams as thine. 
Wherefore there is no interpretation of them, and to 
seek it is blasphemy. 

[Pharaoh leaps upright. Movement of the Crowd] 

Pharaoh. Are ye here to mock me.^ By Sneffu and 
Set, ye shall all to prison and death. 

Priests, Magicians, Soothsayers [Prostrating them- 
selves] Mercy, great King! 

Pharaoh. What mercy do ye show me? Ye know 
my soul is in heavy trouble. My little son is sick unto 
death, and the Queen is belike on her death-bed. Per- 
chance these dreams were sent for my comfort, and ye 
turn them to folly 

Menthu. Ours is the right interpretation! 

Ansu [Violently] Nay, but ours ! 

Iri. The stars cannot lie! 

[ Uproar] 

Pharaoh. Silence! [Dead silence] Is there in all 
Egypt no reader of dreams.^ [To Imhotep] What 
seekest thou.'^ 

[Imhotep has suddenly come forward and thrown 
himself on the steps of the throne] 

Imhotep. Live forever, O King! If it be the King's 
pleasure, I can tell him a thing to his help. 

Pharaoh [Sinking back on the throne] Speak, then; 
but mock me not. 

107 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Imhotep. I do remember my faults this day. Pha- 
raoh was wroth with his servants and put me in ward, 
both me and the Chief Baker. And we dreamed one 
night, I and he. And there was there with us a young 
man, an Hebrew, and he interpreted to us our dreams. 
And it came to pass, as he interpreted, so it was. Me 
thou hast restored to mine office, and the Chief Baker 
is hanged. 

[Movement in the Crowd. All attentive. Pharaoh 
leans forward] 

Imhotep. Behold, this slave is still in prison. I 
promised to remember him, but I f orgat. Let him there- 
fore be sent for, and he will interpret the King's dream 
aright. 

Pharaoh. Have him hither swiftly! 

[Tehuti and four Soldiers march out in quick 
time J at the back] 

Menthu [Stepping forward] The King cannot 
hearken to this slave! 

Ansu. He boweth not to our gods. 

Iri. What knoweth he of the stars? 

Pharaoh [Leans down towards the dwarf] Can'st 
thou silence these chatterers? 

Pesbes. I can drown their voices. [He beckons] 

[Enter Minstrels and Singing-Girls^ wildly 
breaking their way through the crowd. A dance] 

[Pharaoh does not watch the dance; he is lost in 
gloomy thoughts. Re-enter Tehuti, bringing on 
Enenkhet. The dancers disperse, but remain 
on the stage. Tehuti and Enenkhet stand 
before Pharaoh] 

108 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Pharaoh [Standing up] Is he come? 

Enenkhet. He is without, great King, but I dare 
not bring him before thee. 

Pharaoh. Why not? 

Enenkhet. Two years he hath lain in his dungeon; 
the sight of him would offend the King's eyes. 

Pharaoh. Bring him! 

[Tehuti goes out] 

Enenkhet. He is very weak. 
Pharaoh. Can he speak? 
Enenkhet. Ay. 

Pharaoh. Why was he thrown into prison? 
Enenkhet. He was slave to Potiphar, great King; 
the lady Zuleika accused him 

[Movement in the Crowd] 

Pharaoh. The lady Zuleika- 



Enenkhet. O King, he is a holy man! The lady 
Zuleika hath persecuted him. She bade me thrust him 
into the dungeon; and daily she cometh to listen for his 
groans. But he ever singeth praises to his God. 

Pharaoh. If injustice have been done, the gods pity 
the doer. 

[The curtains at the back are opened. Enter the 
four Soldiers and Tehuti, supporting Joseph. 
The Crowd make way for them, falling back 
among the pillars of the side aisles, and an "Oh!'* 
of amazement and pity issues from it. Joseph 
is, indeed, a pitiable figure. His camel-hair gar- 
m,ent is in rags; his hair is long and wild; his 
face is pinched and drawn; his eyes are sunken. 
His frame is wasted away to skin and bone and 
he is shaken with fever and ague, so that he can 
109 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

hardly stand. He looks around half fiercely 
and half frightened, like a captured beast. Pha- 
raoh has risen at Joseph's entrance^ 

Tehuti [To Joseph] Fear nought; come! 

[Joseph sees Pharaoh] 

Joseph [Scarcely articulate^ Pharaoh! 

[He stretches his skeleton of a hand towards Pha- 
raoh in appeal, and advances, with his great, 
glowing eyes fixed on hini] 

Pharaoh. Alas — ! Nay, I will come down to thee! 

[The Crowd murmurs its wonder at this. Pha- 
raoh comes down three steps. Joseph has 
reached the throne and makes as if to kneel] 

Pharaoh. Let him not kneel. 

[The Soldiers keep Joseph up] 
Pharaoh, Set meat before him — give him to drink. 

[Servants are about to fulfil this order, but] 

Joseph [With an effort] Nay — ^nay! I lack noth- 
ing — God was with me in the prison. 

Pharaoh [Still standing] Can'st thou hear me? 

Joseph. Oh, very well, great King! 

Pharaoh. What is thy name? 

Joseph [Radiantly carrying his memory back] When 
I led my father's flocks to pasture, my name was Joseph. 

Pharaoh. I have heard say of thee that thou can'st 
understand a dream to interpret it. 

Joseph. It is not in me. — God shall give Pharaoh 
an answer of peace. 

[The Crowd has closed in again, but the curtains 
110 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

at the hack are left open. The light outside is 
much softer] 

Pharaoh. Art thou strong enough? 
Joseph. He will give me strength. 

[Pharaoh goes up to the throne; Joseph is left, a 
single weird figure, in the centre of the stage] 

Pharaoh [Sitting, and speaking very solemnly, and 
as if he were now witnessing the visions he describes] 
In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the 
river; and there came out of the water seven kine, fat- 
fleshed and well-favoured; and they fed in a meadow; 
and, behold, seven other kine came up after them; poor 
and very ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, such as I never 
saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: and the lean 
and the ill-favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat 
kine ; and when they had eaten them up it could not be 
known that they had eaten them; but they were still 
ill-favoured, as at the beginning. So I woke. 

[Stir among the Crowd. Expression of varying 
emotions. The Priests, Magicians, Soothsay- 
ers, seem to repeat their interpretations to each 
other, Joseph stands perfectly still] 

Pharaoh [Rising and speaking with greater inten- 
sity] And I saw in my dream; and, behold, seven ears 
came up in one stalk, full and good: and, behold, seven 
ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east-wind, 
sprung up after them: and the thin ears devoured the 
seven good ears ! [He sinks back on the throne] And 
I told this unto the magician: but there was none that 
could declare it unto me. [He rests his chin on his 
hand and sinks into brooding thought^ 

111 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[The Crowd stir. The idea among the Priests, 
etc., is "What will Joseph make of that?"] 

[Joseph stands with his hands tightly interlocked 
and pressed close against his breast, his face 
turned upward and his eyes wildly staring. Just 
as the murmur of the Crowd behind him begins 
to assert itself, his voice rings clear above it. He 
speaks in a sort of ecstasy and the words pour 
forth rapidly as if he had no control over them] 

Joseph. The dream of Pharaoh is one. 

[The Crowd is arrested, and listens eagerly] 

Joseph [Quietly but rapidly] God hath shewed Pha- 
raoh what He is about to do. The seven good kine are 
seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years: 
the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill-favoured 
kine that came up after them are seven years; and the 
seven empty ears blasted with the wind shall be seven 
years of famine. [Horror of the Crowd] This is the 
thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is 
about to do He sheweth unto Pharaoh. [With increased 
dignity and intensity] Behold, there come seven years 
of great plenty throughout the land of Egjpt^[The 
Crowd gives a silent "Ah!" of joy; Joseph continues, 
sternly] And then shall arise after them seven years of 
famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the 
land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 
and the plenty shall not be remembered in the land by 
reason of that famine following; for it shall be very 
grievous. [Crowd in distress. Joseph proceeds with 
impressive and authoritative power] And for that the 
dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice [He turns and 
faces Pharaoh, who is leaning forward with breathless 

112 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

attention] it is because the thing is established by God^ 
and God will shortly bring it to pass ! 

Pharaoh [Sternly] Is there more wisdom in thee 
than in all the wise men of Egypt? 

Joseph [With humble dignity] It is not in me. It is 
God. 

Menthu [Stepping forward] O King, wilt thou be- 
lieve him so lightly? 

Ansu. Bid him show thee a sign and a token. 

Iri. Thou shalt see his God is powerless ! 

Pharaoh [Gravely] Ay! — Joseph, how shall I know 
thy words are true? 

[Crowd eager] 

Joseph. While I speak, behold, a great sorrow fall- 
eth upon the King, and still while I speak, cometh a 
great joy. 

[The Crowd turn to each other in amazement] 

Menthu [Triumphant] Behold, O King — ! 

[Suddenly a great wail of mourning women is 
heard off R.] 

[Pharaoh leaps to his feet. The Crowd, R., rush 
across to L. in fear. The Priests, etc., come 
down to R. front. Joseph stands still] 

Pharaoh. What is that wailing of women? 

[Enter a physician, R., and throws himself at 
Pharaoh^s feet] 

Pharaoh. Speak ! Speak ! 

Physician. Great Pharaoh, thy little son is dead. 

[Pharaoh quivers, hut stands firm. The Crowd 
gives a great cry of horror, which merges into a 
113 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

moan of sympathy. Hands are stretched out 
towards Pharaoh. Suddenly a joyful flourish 
of trumpets cuts through the sounds of mourn- 
ing. Pharaoh shudders, and cries out] 

Pharaoh. The trumpets! Silence the trumpets! 

[A second Physician hurries in] 

2d Physician [Prostrating himself before Pharaoh] 
Rejoice, O King! A man-child is born unto thee! 

Pharaoh [Eagerly] The Queen } 

2d Physician. The Queen liveth and is well. 

[Pharaoh sinks hack on the throne, covers his face 
with his hands, and is shaken rvith sobs of joy. 
The Crowd is bewildered; its murmurs increase, 
and it is just going to break into a shout of joy, 
when ] 

Tehuti [Advancing] Break up the court ! Leave the 
King to his mourning and to his joy. 

Pharaoh [Rising] Not so! — Our joys and sorrows 
are private, but this matter of the dream is for the 
land! Joseph, what would'st thou have me do? 

Joseph. Let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and 
wise, and set him over the land of Egypt; and let him 
gather all the food of those good years that come, and 
let them keep food in the cities. And that shall be for a 
store against the seven years of famine; that the land 
perish not through the famine. 

Pharaoh [To the Nobles and Officers near his 
throne] What say ye all? Is this wisdom? 

Tehuti. O King, it is good. 

Crowd. It is good! It is good! 

Pharaoh. Can we find such a one as this is, a man 
in whom the spirit of God is? 

114 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Imhotep. Set him over us, O King ! 

Crowd. Joseph ! Joseph ! 

Pharaoh. Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all 
this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art : Thou 
shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word 
shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I 
be greater than thou. [He rises] Joseph art thou no 
more, but I will call thee Zaphenath Paneah, the prince 
of the days to be. [He comes down from the throne to 
Joseph, who is standing dazed. He draws off his signet- 
ring and places it on Joseph's finger] See ! I have set 
thee over all the land of Egypt. [To the Crowd] 
Bow the knee! 

All. Hail, prince of life! 

[Joseph suddenly sinJcs into Enenkhet's arms. 
Pharaoh has turned away. The Crowd gasps] 

Enenkhet. The glory is too great — ^he swooneth. 
1st Physician [Who has hurried up] O King, the 
man is dying — 

Pharaoh. Now the gods forbid! 

[The Crowd has closed in] 

Enenkhet. His heart is breaking — 
Pharaoh. Make way ! Give air ! 

[The Crowd opens. At the back, outside the hall, 
music sounds and the voices of Maidens chant- 
ing, A procession of young Maidens passes 
slowly from L. to R. and, in their midst, Ase- 
NATH, in white, crowned with white flowers] 

Joseph [Faintly] What — is — that — music .^ 
Physician. He speaketh! 

Joseph [Rising eagerly] What — is — that — ssinging? 
115 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Menthu. It is my daughter, on her way to the 
temple of Neith — 

Joseph [Vaguely] Thy daughter — ? How is she 
called ? 

Menthu. Asenath. 

Joseph [Transfigured] Asenath! — Ah! Let me see 
her! 

1st Physician. My lord is very weak. 

Pharaoh [To Joseph] Dost thou love her .5* 

Joseph. Ah, God — 

Pharaoh [He mounts the throne] Bring her hither! 
[Tehuti, who has gone up to the entrance, turns 
the procession into the hall. The Maidens who 
were in front of Asenath come down, L.j those 
behind her, R, She walks alone down the centre, 
half-dazed and half-frightened. Joseph is 
kneeling, R. front, with arms outstretched yearn- 
ingly. She only sees a woful creature, as it were, 
appealing for pity. A look of wonder comes 
into her face, a puzzled look of struggling re- 
membrance, a look of dawning hope] 

Joseph. Asenath ! 

[She stops short, with a little gasp of amazement, 
then she timidly and falteringly comes towards 
him. At this moment Zuleika enters from R., 
followed by Wakara and her Ladies. Zuleika 
and Asenath face each other for an instant. The 
joy dies out of Asenath's face. She utters a 
moan, draws the veil she is wearing over her 
face, and totters, gropingly, to her father, who 
catches her to his breast and hurriedly leads her 
off, L. Joseph has risen. Zuleika, with a little 
mocking laugh at him, and a deep obeisance to 
116 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Pharaoh, sweeps out magnificently. Confusion 
among the Crowd] 

Pharaoh [Angrily^ Summon the maiden back! 

Joseph. Oh, King, I pray thee let the maiden go in 
peace, for she is in the power of the liar. And as for 
me, I will do thy bidding, and I will serve Egypt, and 
save it. [Drawing himself up to his full height] And 
I will live till the liar be put to confusion ! 

All. Hail, Prince of Life ! 

Curtain 



117 



ACT IV 

THE DELIVERER 

Genesis XLII; XLIII; XLIV; XLIX 

SCENE I 
THE TENTS OF SHECHEM 





PERSONS 




Jacob 




Gad 


Reuben 




Asher 


Levi 




Zebulun 


Judah 




Benj amin 


Dan 




Issachar 


Naphtali 




Serah 




SIMEON 

From a Drawing by Dorothy Parker 



ACT IV 

Scene 1 — The Interior of Jacobus Tent as in the Last 
Scene of Act I 

R. C. there is a seat, ,formed of cushions, in which 
Jacob, nom 106 years old, is reclining. He gazes 
straight before him rvith unseeing eyes. Judah is bent 
humbly before him, but Jacob takes no notice of him. 
The other Brothers are in a group, L. front. Judah 
rises and comes to them. 

Judah. Father Jacob ! — He will not hear. He will 
not speak. [Down R.] 

Levi. Woe ! Woe ! 

Reuben. The food we brought out of Egypt is all 
spent. 

AsHER [Enters] My children, and my children's 
children clamour for bread. 

Reuben. It is the curse of God for the evil we did 
unto Joseph. 

Levi. Now we must go down to Egypt a second 
time. 

Reuben [Bitterly'] Ay, we, princes in Israel, on our 
knees, begging for food! 

Gad. Needs must, when hunger drives. 

Dan. Not hunger only; we must redeem Simeon. 

Zebulun. Simeon, that was hottest for selling 
Joseph a slave, is now a slave himself 

AsHER. And we are starving 

121 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

JuDAH. God is righteous. 

Dan. I dread the man — ^the governor — ^him they call 
the Revealer of Secrets. 

Levi. Nay^ he is our friend. Did he not restore to 
each man his money in his sack.'* 

Naphtali [To Reuben's Slave] I dread a trick. 
What if he say we stole the money, and slay Simeon? 

Reuben. Yet to him we must go. In all the world 
there is no corn, but only in Egypt. 

IssACHAR. Our father will not let us go. 

Reuben. We must persuade him. 

IssACHAR. Remember the man's words — Except ye 
bring Benjamin, ye shall not see my face. 

Zebulun [Pointing off L.] Lo! Benjamin. 
[Enter Benjamin, a lad] 

Levi. Oh, latest-born of Rachel, Benjamin, whom 
our father loveth, plead for us. 

Benjamin. What would'st thou, son of Leah.^ 

Levi. Plead with Jacob for us, that we may go 
down into Egypt once more. 

Benjamin. That will I, gladly. 

[Enter Serah, in wild distress. She hurries to 
Asher, and throrvs herself in his arms\ 
Serah. Father, my child crieth for food! Father! 
Father! My first-born! 

All [Veiling their faces'] Woe upon us all! 

Asher. Child, our father's heart is turned to stone. 

Serah. I will entreat him 

AsHER [Pointing to Jacob] Lo! he looketh neither 
to the left nor to the right; his eyeballs have grown 
white with weeping. Yet, Serah, take thy harp; sing 
to him — sing our grief — sing the death of our chil- 
dren 

122 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Serah. Alas! How shall I sing, with a breaking 

AsHER. Put the heart-break into thy song, 
Serah. Give me my harp — I will sing. 

[She takes her harp; goes up to Jacob, and, kneel- 
ing on one knee, sings. The Brothers cover 
their faces with their cloaks, and stand and sit, 
impressive figures of sorrow] 

Serah [Sings] — 

I sit alone in the wilderness, 

My children are perishing around me 

Mother, mother, they cry. 

We hunger, we are a-thirst. 

Cry not to me, O children. 

Cry to the Captain of Israel ! 

As for me, I am dried up; 

My heart-strings are rent asunder. 

Even as I rend the strings of my harp! 

[With a wild chord, she tears the strings out of her 
harp. Jacob awakes out of his dream] 

Jacob Who singeth? Is it thou, Serah, daughter 
of Asher? ° 

Serah. Father, it is I! My child is dying! 

Jacob. Joseph, my beloved, is dead; and Simeon is a 
captive in a strange land. 

Serah. But we, the living, are an-hungered. 

Reuben. All the seed of Israel will surely perish. 

Jacob. Go again; buy us a little food. 
^ JuDAH. The man did solemnly protest unto us, say- 
ing. Ye shall not see my face, except your brother, Ben- 
jamin, be with you. 

Jacob. Me have ye bereaved of my children; Joseph 
123 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

is not, and Simeon is not_, and ye will take away Ben- 
jamin, whom his mother died in bearing: all these 
things are against me. 

Reuben. Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to 
thee. 

Jacob. Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell 
the man whether ye had yet a brother? 

Levi. The man asked us straitly of our state, and 
of our kindred, saying. Is your father yet alive? Have 
ye another brother? 

IssACHAR. Could we certainly know that he would 
say. Bring your brother down? 

Gad. The man knew all things: for though the city 
hath ten gates ; and we went in, each of us by a separate 
gate, yet he knew all our going and coming. 

Zebulun. He is called the Revealer of Secrets. 

JuDAH. Send the lad with me, and we will arise 
and go; that we may live, and not die, both we and 
thou, and our little ones. 

Serah. Israel ! Israel ! 

JuDAH. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt 
thou require him. If I bring him not unto thee, and 
set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for- 
ever. For except we had lingered, surely now we had 
returned this second time. 

Benjamin. Father, let me go. I have no fear of 
the man. 

Jacob. Can*st thou leave me, Benjamin? 

Benjamin. For my brothers' sakes, and for the sake 
of their children. 

[Pause] 

Jacob [To Judah] If evil befall him, thou shalt 
bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. 

124 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Yet, if it must be so— [Movement of joy amongst the 
Brothers; Zebulun slips out at back] now do this: 
Take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and 
carry down the man a present, a little balm, a Httle 
honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds: and take 
double money in your hand; and the money that was 
brought again in the mouths of your sacks, carry it again 
m your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: take 
. also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man. 
IHe clasps Benjamin in his arms] 

JuDAH. Now, God be praised, who hath moved thy 
heart! We will make all speed, and it shall not be 
many days ere we return with food. 

Reuben. Thy blessing, O Israel ! 

[All Jcneel where they happen to be standing, 
Jacob rises] 

Jacob. God Almighty give you mercy before the 
man, that he may send away your brother, and Benja- 
min. If I be bereaved, I am bereaved. 

[Zebulun flings open the great curtains at the 
back. Outside the asses are seen laden for the 
journey, with Slaves, etc. The Brothers break 
up amid subdued excitement. Benjamin leaves 
Jacob, and, sheltering under Judah's arm, goes 
out. Jacob follows him to the door, where he 
sinks to the ground, and, picking up handsful of 
dust, scatters it on his white hair] 

The Scene Changes 



125 



SCENE II 

JOSEPH'S HOUSE 

PERSONS 



Joseph 

Simeon 

Tehuti 

Sebni 

Atha 



Dedefre 

Enenkhet 

Zuleika 

Asenath 

Wakara 



Tamai 
Slaves 
Scene 2 — An Open Space outside Joseph's House 

Trees on the right, and in the background. Through 
a break in the latter there is a view of the Nile, with, on 
the opposite shore, the Pyramids and the temples at- 
tached to them. The entrance to the house is L. 

Enter Joseph and Asenath, R., attended by Slaves, 
leading Ephraim and Manasseh (children), who, at a 
signal from Joseph, pass on into the house. 

Asenath. Is my lord happy? 
Joseph. Ah! Am I happy! 
126 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

AsENATH. Are the sheep-folds in Dothan forgotten? 

Joseph. Nay, for then I were less happy. 

AsENATH. Rede me that riddle. 

Joseph. I am of a race which never forgets. With 
us the ties of blood are stronger than death. 

AsENATH. Stronger than love.'* 

Joseph [Smiliiig] Is there no such tie between us.^ 
Art thou not the mother of my children.^ Art thou 
happy, Asenath.'* 

Asenath. Ay — save when I remember Zuleika. 

Joseph. What is Zuleika to us? 

Asenath. I fear her. They say she fareth every 
night yonder [Pointing to the Pyramids] to Cheops* 
tomb; and there she weaveth spells and breweth phil- 
tres. They say many men have come to a miserable 
end by her craft. Oh, remember how she hateth thee, 
and beware! 

Joseph. Be comforted. She shall hurt neither thee 
nor me. [To Enenkhet, who enters L.] What now? 

Enenkhet. Great lord, here be certain nobles of the 
land, humbly crave speech of thee. 

Joseph [To Asenath, leading her towards the en- 
trance of the house] Go in, beloved, and be of good 
cheer. Drink courage in the eyes of our sons, Manasseh 
and Ephraim. 

Asenath. I have drunk courage in thine. But 
beware ! 

[Exit into the house"] 

Joseph [To the Steward] Well — ^have the nobles 
hither. Wait. How fareth our guest: Simeon, the son 
of Jacob? 

Enenkhet. He hath his freedom, to go and come, 
as my lord bade. 

127 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. How doth he use that freedom? 
Enenkhet. Seeking his brother. 
Joseph [Smiling] Joseph? 

Enenkhet [With a twinkle] I think that is the 
name, my lord. 

Joseph. Bid him attend me. 

[Ea;it Enenkhet L. Enter L., Tehuti, Sebni, 
Atha and Dedefre] 

Tehuti. Revealer of Secrets, O Prince of Life, live 
forever ! 

Joseph. What is it ye seek? 

Tehuti. Behold, there is no bread in all the land; 
for the famine is very sore, so that the land of Egypt 
fainteth by reason of the famine. 

[Simeon enters, and stands rvdtching the scene] 

Joseph. I warned you of this: it is according to 
Pharaoh's dream. 

Sebni. But thou, lord, hast gathered up all the money 
that was found in the land of Egypt for the corn which 
we bought. 

Joseph [Gravely] I have brought the money into 
Pharaoh's house. 

Dedefre. And when money failed, and we said, Give 
us bread, for why should we die in thy presence 

Joseph [Blandly] Then said I, Give your cattle; 
and I gave you bread in return for your cattle. 

Atha. And now we come again entreating thy help. 

Dedefre. We will not hide from my lord that our 
money is spent 

Atha. My lord hath also our herds of cattle. 

Tehuti [Bitterly] There is not aught left in the 
sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 

128 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Atha [With increasing violence] Wherefore shall 
we die before thine eyes, both we and our land! 

Dedefre. Buy us and our land for bread, and we 
and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh! 

Sebni. Give us seed, that we may live and not die! 

Atha. That the land be not desolate ! 

Tehuti. Lo! We will sell our ancient freedom for 
food, that our little ones may live. 

Joseph [Gravely] It shall be as you say. Your- 
selves and your lands ye shall bind to Pharaoh, and 
food shall be given you, and seed to sow your land. Go 
within. Let each man write out his account. 

Tehuti. My lord is very merciful! 

[They pass into the house with every token of 
despair. One veils his face, rveeping] 

Sebni. He holdeth us in the hollow of his hand ! 
Atha. What care 1} Shall I see my children 
starve ? 

[Ea;eunt] 

[Joseph turns with a grave smile to Simeon] 

Joseph. Well, Simeon, my— guest — what thinkest 
thou of what thou seest in Egypt .^ 

Simeon [With sincere admiration] I thought I was 
a hard man at bartering, but in thy presence ! 

Joseph. I grieve to hear thy search for thy brother 
hath been fruitless. 

Simeon [Startled] How knewest thou .? 

Joseph [Smiling] Am I not the Revealer of Secrets .? 
[Blandly] How was thy brother lost.^ 

Simeon [Sullenly] If my lord knoweth all things, 
he knoweth that also. 

[Tehuti appears, L.] 

129 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Tehuti. My lord, the deeds are written. Will it 
please thee to sign? 
Joseph. I come. 

[Tehuti goes in] 

Joseph [To Simeon] I would willingly have heard 
thee tell the tale. But the lords wait. [As he goes in, 
with a slight tinge of mockery] Seek again, Simeon! 

[As he turns to go into the house, Zuleika is 
brought in in a litter, R,, attended by Wakara 
and Tamai] 

Simeon [LooMng after Joseph] Was the man mock- 
ing me? Doth he know I sold Joseph into slavery? 
Since he knoweth all things — was he mocking me? 

Zuleika. Who was mocking thee, Hebrew? 

Simeon. Lady [He is about to pass her, when 

he recognizes her and starts back in amazement] 

Zuleika. Why does thou marvel so? 

Simeon. Where have I seen thee — ? Where? Where? 

Zuleika [Recognizing him] Thou — ! Ay — ! the 
years have not taken the greed out of thine eyes ! Thou 
art one of those who would have slain Joseph ! 

Simeon. And thou art she who bought him! Ah! 
Thank God! Now I shall find my brother again! 

Zuleika. Art thou mad? 

Simeon. Nay, deny me not. Thou art she! Time 
hath not touched thy beauty! Joseph, my brother, is 
he alive? Where is he ? 

Wakara [In amazement, indicating the house] 
Why 

ZvLKiKA [Sharply] Silence! [To SiUEOiJ, watching 
him closely] Knowest thou in whose house thou art? 

Simeon. In the house of the Overlord of Egypt. I 
130 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

came with my brethren to buy food; and the man called 
us spies and held me for hostage till my brethren bring 
our youngest brother^ Benjamin 

ZuLEiKA [Insistently] Nay^ but the man; knowest 
thou who the man is? 

Simeon. I know nought, save that from him pro- 
ceedeth life and death. If thou knowest aught of my 
brother, tell me. For the curse is upon me for his sake. 

[ZuLEiKAj seeing Joseph and the Egyptians com- 
ing out of the house, gives a signal and is carried 
on. Simeon follows her a little way] 

ZuLEiKA. Thy brother liveth. 

Simeon [With a cry'] What! Where? Where? 

[Joseph and the Lords come out] 

Joseph [At the entrance] And so, farewell, my 
lords. 

Tehuti. Farewell, dispenser of mercies. 

[They go out, L., hack. Joseph watches them] 

ZuLEiKA [To Simeon] Come at midnight [Pointing 
to the Pyramids] to Cheops' tomb. 

[She is carried out, with Wakara and Tamai fol- 
lowing her. Simeon looks after her in amaze- 
ment, and exit, R., hack] 

Joseph [Calling] Simeon! 

[Simeon turns, alarmed, towards Joseph] 

The Scene Changes 



ISl 



SCENE III 
THE PYRAMIDS 
PERSONS 
Potiphar Ani 

Simeon Zuleika 

Heru Wakara 

Tamai 

Slaves 
Scene 3— At the Foot of an Angle of the Pyramid. 

The Pyramid projects diagonally from L. front to 
R. C. and soars out of sight, giving the impression that 
the small portion seen of it is life-size. On the R. are 
a few palms. In the distance the solemn bulk of another 
Pyramid looms against the shy. It is night; the moon 
has not yet risen. The shy is of a deep purple, studded 
with countless stars. None of the details of the Pyra^ 
mid can he seen — it is merely an overwhelming blach 
angle. 

Enter, R., Potiphar, Heru, Ani and Tamai, followed 
by a few Ethiopian Slaves, one of whom carries burn- 
ing coals in a cage-lihe vessel, while another bears iron 
pincers, 

132 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Tamai. This is the place. 

PoTiPHAR. It is sacred. 

Heru. My lord Potiphar, bid us not abide here; 
here the gods move. 

Ani. The girl led us hither to a trap. 

PoTiPHAR [To Tamai] What is thy reward if thou 
liest.^ 

Tamai. Death. 

PoTiPHAR. Lingering and terrible. 

Tamai. I lie not. 

PoTiPHAR. Get ye behind the tomb. Heat the blind- 
ing-irons; red-hot — red-hot. I will lie among the palms. 
When I come forth, come forth also. Begone. 

[Heru, Ani and the Slaves go behind the Pyramid] 

PoTiPHAR [Strides agitatedly to and fro. Stops 
before Tamai] I know thou liest. Why should she 
seek the lord Joseph's death.'' 

Tamai. Because she loveth him 

PoTiPHAR. Thou liest! Thou liest! He sought her 
love and she 

Tamai. He sought not her love. She sought his 
love, and he scorned her. Therefore she seeketh his 
death. 

PoTiPHAR [Violently] Girl! I could put my hand 
about thy throat and press the life out of thee, for thou 

speakest my fear ! Ha! I thank the gods I shall 

know the truth to-night. 

Tamai [At his feet] Oh, my lord, use her mercifully! 
I know how love has made her suffer. Save my lord 
Joseph, but use Zuleika mercifully. 

PoTiPHAR. Fool! do I not suffer.? Have I not loved 
her.'* She hath made a mock of me — unless thou lie! 

133 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Woe to thee if thou lie ! Woe to her and to me if thou 
speak truth! 

Tamai. Come what may^ for me there is nothing but 
woe! 

PoTiPHAR [Suddenly] With me! Into the dark- 
ness ! 

[He drags Tamai among the palms. Enter, L., 
Wakara, leading Slaves, who bear a closed litter 
in which is Zuleika] 

ZuLEiKA. Set me down. [She emerges from the lit- 
ter. She is dressed in white, over which she wears a 
black veil] 

Zuleika. When the moon is straight above the tomb^ 
come and bear me away. Begone. 

[The Slaves hurry out, R., bearing the litter with 
them] 

Zuleika. Thou, go spy whether Simeon cometh. 
Wakara. Hast thou no dread? The ghosts of dead 
men are all about us. 

Zuleika. I fear not the dead. Begone. 

[Exit Wakara, L. The moon rises. Zuleika 
stands rigid. Enter Simeon, L.] 

Zuleika. Art thou come, Simeon.^ 

Simeon. At thy bidding. 

Zuleika. Stand more in the dark. 

Simeon. Who should see me here? 
Zuleika. The Revealer watcheth. What seekest 
thou? 

Simeon. Where is my brother hidden? 

Zuleika. The Revealer hath him in hiding. 

Simeon, Zaphenath Paneah! 
J34 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

ZuLEiKA. Joseph is in his house. 

Simeon. But he knoweth I seek him! 

ZuLEiKA. He mocketh thee. He cannot disclose 
Joseph^ for whatever he hath, he hath from Joseph. 
His wisdom is Joseph's; his reading of dreams is 
Joseph's. Yea, he hath even wedded the woman Joseph 
loved. How can he disclose him? 

Simeon. He knoweth me for Joseph's brother — why 
hath he not slain me? Why did he not slay us all when 
we were here? 

ZuLEiKA. Were ye all here? 

Simeon. All, save Benjamin., 

ZuLEiKA. Why art thou a hostage? 

Simeon. That Benjamin may be brought. 

ZuLEiKA. When Benjamin is brought, then shall ye 
all be slain, for then 

Simeon. Then what ? 

ZuLEiKA. Then no avenger can arise — unless 

Simeon. Unless ? 

ZuLEiKA. Wilt thou suffer the slayer to live? 

Simeon. Woman ! 

ZuLEiKA. Wilt thou not free thy brother? 

Simeon. Egypt loveth the man — worshipeth him as 
a god — the Nobles — Pharaoh himself 

ZuLEiKA [Laughing] Thinkest thou Pharaoh loveth 
him? Who is king in Egypt? Not Pharaoh, but this 
upstart. Do the Nobles love him, whose gold, whose 
cattle, whose lands and whose bodies he hath taken for 
a peck of corn? Strike! and Egypt shall call thee the 
Deliverer ! [She throws off her veil] 

Simeon. Woman ! Thine eyes blaze through the 
night ! 

ZuLEiKA. Strike ! and thou shalt see them blaze with 
another flame! 

135 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Simeon. Woman ! woman ! thou pourest poison into 
my veins ! 

ZuLEiKA. Set Pharaoh free; redeem thy brother! 
Deliver Egypt; slay the man I hate 

Simeon [Quickly] Why hatest thou him ? 

ZuLEiKA [In a wild outburst of passion] Because I 
love him ! Because he spurned me ! Ah, gods ! Shall 
I ever forget! Twice I destroyed him, and twice he 
sprang up refreshed! Ah! Slay him! Slay him! 
And ask what reward thou wilt! 

Simeon. They have stripped me of my weapons. 

ZuLEiKA [Handing him a dagger] Here! — here! 
Hide this under thy cloak. Beware! A scratch is 
death — 'tis poisoned ! 

Simeon. I am alone — if I make to touch him, his 
servants will fall upon me 

ZuLEiKA. Oh, faint heart! Wait till thy brethren 
be at thy side 

Simeon [Eagerly] And then — Zuleika? 

ZuLEiKA. Begone — swiftly! My bearers come. 

[Simeon hurries out, L. She watches him off. 
With a triumphant gesture, she turns, to find 
herself face to face with Potiphar, who has 
come out of the shadow. Tamai has slipped 
out, R.] 

Zuleika [Quite calm] Eavesdropping, my lord? 
PoTiPHAR [Cold and stern] Thy name shall be a by- 
word of shame. 

Zuleika. And thine a by-word of mockery. 
PoTiPHAR. No word of repentance ? 
Zuleika. Ay, I repent me that I have failed. 
PoTiPHAR [More sternly] But — to me! 
136 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[The Ethiopian Slaves have entered unperceived 
and stand behind Zuleika] 

ZuLEiKA [Mockingly] Oh, my lord, were I to speak 
to thee, in a moment I should win thy love again: which 
the gods forbid. I heed neither thy love nor thy hate. 
Farewell. 

[At a movement from Potiphar, the Slaves step 
forward. Zuleika for a moment sways with 
terror, then draws herself up and speaks con- 
temptuously] 

Zuleika. Death.'' A poor triumph, my lord. It is 
so easy to slay. 

PoTiPHAR. Not death. [To the Slaves] Take her. 

[She walks proudly amid the Slaves to the rear 
of the Pyramid, where a fitful red glow rises 
and falls as if fire were being fanned. They dis- 
appear round the angle. Potiphar stands rigid, 
listening] 

[Suddenly there is a ghastly cry] 

[Potiphar rends his garment from head to foot, 
and sinks on the ground] 

Potiphar. The eyes that offended have atoned. 
The Scene Changes 



137 





SCENE 


IV 




IN 


JOSEPH'S 


HOUSE 




PERSONS 




Joseph 






Jacob 


Benjamin 






Reuben 


Manasseh 






Simeon 


Ephraim 






Levi 


Tehuti 






Judah 


Sebni 






Dan 


Atha 






Naphtali 


Dedefre 






Gad 


Enenkhet 






Asher 


Asenath 






Issachar 


Tamai 






Zebulun 



Nobles, Ladies, Minstrels, Dancing Girls, Slaves, People 

138 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 



Scene 4 — The Hall in Joseph's House 

It is of light and graceful architecture. On the left 
is a raised platform running along the entire wall, on 
which, presently, Joseph's table will be set. Two doors, 
L., opening on to this platform. Through the one near 
the footlights Joseph and Asenath enter. Through 
the further one, the Servitors. The back is practically 
entirely open to the garden, but all the openings can 
be closed by rolling mats. They are closed at the rise 
of the curtain. The right wall also has two doors. Be- 
yond the hall and garden there is a view of Memphis, 
with huge temples and still more enormous storehouses 
and granaries. 

At the rise of the curtain a female Slave brings on 
Tamai, leaves her in the centre of the hall, and with an 
obeisance goes off, L. Immediately enter Asenath. 

Asenath. What would'st thou with me, maiden.^ 
Tamai. Bid thy lord beware of Simeon the hostage. 
Asenath [Frightened] What of him? 
Tamai. He hath sworn to slay thy lord. 
. Asenath. He is unarmed. 
Tamai. Zuleika hath given him a poisoned knife. 
Asenath. Alas ! is her hatred so ruthless ! 

[Enter Joseph, L.] 

Tamai [Sadly] She can never do any hurt again. 

Asenath. What! Is she dead.^* 

Tamai. She is — blind. 

Asenath. Oh, unhappy wretch! [To Joseph, who 
enters] My lord, hear what this maiden saith concern- 
ing Simeon. 

139 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. All she can say I know. 

AsENATH. The knife ? 

Joseph. I know; I know. Go in — make ready for 
the banquet. 

Asenath. With a heavy heart. Come with me, 
maiden. 

Tamai. Nay, lady; I must follow another road. 

Asenath. What is that.'' 

Tamai. To wait upon the blind Zuleika 

Asenath [To Joseph] My lord [She whispers 

to hiin] 

Joseph [Coming to Tamai] Go in peace, sister; and 
fulfil thine errand of mercy. • [He takes her head in his 
hand, and kisses her. She goes out, C, shaken rvith 
sohs^ 

[Asenath has gone out. Enter Enenkhet] 

Joseph. Well ? 



Enenkhet. The ten brethren have entered the gates, 
my lord. 

Joseph [Eagerly] Ten — ! Art thou sure? 

Enenkhet. Ay, my good lord. 

Joseph [With a cry of joy] Then Benjamin, whom 
I have never seen, is here! — Almighty God, I thank 
Thee ! [He goes to the door and turns to speak from 
the platform to Enenkhet, who is in the centre of the 
hall] Bring these men hither and slay and make ready; 
for these men shall dine with me at noon. [Exit] 

[Enenkhet claps his hands. Enter Servants. 
They draw the blinds of the central entrance at 
the back. Enenkhet goes to the opening and 
beckons off R. Enter the Brethren. They are 
full of suspicion] 

140 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Meanwhile the Servants set the tables and cush- 
ions, and dress the hall with flowers. One table 
is set with four seats on the platform, L. An- 
other for the Egyptians below the platform, at 
right angles with it, near the back, and a third 
for the Brethren, extreme R., leaving an open 
space, C] 

Enenkhet [At the entrance] Come hither, friends! 
Nay, but come within boldly. 

Reuben [Entering suspiciously, with Levi] Because 
of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first 
time are we brought in. 

Levi. Ay — that he may seek occasion against us, and 
fall upon us, and take us for bondmen. 

JuDAH [With Benjamin, outside] Go not within, 
till we know my lord's mind. 

Reuben [To the Steward] O sir, we came indeed 
down at the first time to buy food, and when we opened 
our sacks, behold, every man's money in full weight! 
And we have brought it again in our hand. 

Levi. And other money have we brought to buy 
food. 

Judah [Who has entered with Benjamin — eagerly] 
We cannot tell who put the money in our sacks. 

Enenkhet. Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and 
the God of your fathers hath given you treasure in 
your sacks; I had your money. 

[All the Brethren enter. They talk together in 
wonderment] 

Enenkhet [To Servants] Bring forth their 
brother that is an hostage. [To the Brethren] Ye 
are to dine with my lord. 

141 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Two Servants go out, R. I. Enenkhet leaves 
the Brethren and attends to the preparations 
for the banquet. The Brethren huddle to- 
gether^ 

IssACHAR. The man doth us too much honour. 
Dan. I fear him. 

Zebulun. Ay — we will move warily 

JuDAH [To Benjamin, who is wandering off, admir- 
ing the hall] Thou, bide at my side ! 

Benjamin [Laughing] Fear not me, brother! 

[The two Servants re-enter, R. I., with Simeon. 
He is gloomy, distraught, and scarcely greets 
his brethren] 

Reuben. Lo ! Simeon ! 
All [Subdued] Simeon — ! 
Gad. How is it with thee? Art thou whole? 
Simeon. It is well with me. 

Asher. Behold: our brother has taken no hurt; the 
man is an honourable man. 

[The Brethren are a little easier in their minds. 
Enenkhet goes to the central entrance, where 
he meets Tehuti, Sebni, Atha and Dedefre, all 
in their richest robes] 

Enenkhet [To them] Hither, my lords! [He ush- 
ers them in with great ceremony. They eye the Breth- 
ren askance] 

Simeon [In a quick whisper — to Reuben] Be silent! 
Be watchful! 

Reuben [Startled into speaking out loud] Is there 
danger ? 

Simeon [Viciously] I said. Be silent! 
142 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Tehuti [Condescendingly; to Judah] Are ye here 
also to sell your bodies for food? 

Judah [Haughtily] Not so! Our God is good, and 
we have money. 

[The door on the left is thrown open] 
Steward. Behold! Zaphenath Paneah, the Revealer 
of Secrets, the lord of life, the Deliverer, draweth nigh. 
[Enter Joseph, Asenath, Manasseh and Ephraim, 
in rohes of state. The two latter very young 
boys. All prostrate themselves. Asenath a7id 
the two Boys go behind the tables prepared for 
them. Joseph comes to the front of the plat- 
form] 
Joseph [Gently] Rise, friends. [A pause] Wel- 
come, ye Hebrew' Brethren ! Is all well with you? 

Reuben [Standing forward] All is well with us, my 
lord. [He crosses and kneels at the foot of the plat- 
form] Lo, we have brought an humble gift for my 
lord. Honey and spices, myrrh, nuts and almonds. It 
is not worth my lord's notice. 

Joseph. The spirit of the gift is all. Is your father 
well? The old mjin of whom ye spake? Is he yet 
alive? 

Reuben. Thy servant, our father, is in good health; 

he is yet alive. 

Joseph [Sees Benjamin; speaks with an effort] Is 
this your younger brother of whom ye spake unto me? 

[Reuben retires. Judah brings Benjamin for- 
ward] 
Judah. This is he, my lord; Benjamin, the son of 
Rachel. 

143 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph [Instinctively makes to step down and em- 
brace Benjamin, hut restrains himself. He stretches 
out his arms over the youth] God be gracious unto 
thee, my son. [To Enenkhet] Set on bread. [He 
turns away, covering his face with his cloak, and gets 
to his seat beside Asenath] 

[Under Enenkhet's direction. Servants bring in 
the banquet, which they set on the tables. The 
Guests are still standing] 

Asenath [To Joseph] Why is my lord so deeply 
stirred ? 

Joseph. My bowels yearn for Benjamin! 

Asenath. Who are the men, my lord? 

Joseph. Wait a little while. [To Enenkhet] Come 
hither. [He whispers to him, indicating the Brethren, 
and pointing to his silver cup. Enenkhet shows sur- 
prise; then laughs; finally bows in assent] 

Enenkhet. Thy guests are waiting, my lord. 

Joseph. Sit, I pray you. [The Egyptians sit at 
once. The Brethren are in some confusion] Reuben, 
the first-born, according to his birthright, and Simeon, 
Levi and Judah, the sons of Leah, together; the sons 
of Bilhah, Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher, the sons 
of Zilpah; the later-born sono of Leah, Issachar and 
Zebulun — and the youngest according to his youth; Ben- 
jamin, the son of Rachel. Set their messes before them, 
but let Benjamin's mess be five times so much as theirs. 

Reuben [Amazed] He knoweth our names and our 
degrees, and the names of our mothers ! 

Simeon. It is black wizardry. 

Joseph. Ye marvel one to another whence cometh 
my knowledge! [He holds his silver cup on high] Is 
not this my cup in which I drink and [With intention] 

144 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

whereby indeed I divine ? Now, drink with me, friends, 
and be merry. 

[All fall to with merry talk. Only the Egyptians 
are silent and gloomy. In the gardens at the 
hack are Minstrels and Dancing Girls. The 
Minstrels play very softly, and the Dancing 
Girls dance silently] 
[The Hebrews are keenly interested. The Egyp- 
tians take no notice of the dancers. Presently 
Enenkhet takes the cup Joseph has drunk 
from, goes out at door, L. 2, and is seen carry- 
ing the cup outside across the garden from L. to 
B. Then he returns. Meanwhile, the dialogue 
continues] 
Joseph [To the Egyptians] Nay, but ye, the lords 
of the land, ye drink not, and your faces are dark. 

Tehuti. Our souls are heavy, my lord, for we are 
bondmen. 

Sebni [Violently] Lo! We have given our money, 
our cattle, our lands, and our bodies to Pharaoh. 
Atha. There is nothing left but death! 
Dedefre. How, then, can we be merry? 
Sebni. Shall a man laugh by his own graveside? 

[Angry murmur and gestures among the Egyp- 
tians. The Hebrews are interested. Asenath 
anxious] 
Joseph. Ye mourn too soon. Behold, I have bought 

you and your land for Pharaoh 

[The Egyptians leap to their feet with an angry 
roar] 
Tehuti. Wilt thou make a boast of it? 
145 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[Confusion. Joseph stands calm] 

Joseph. Now, hearken — ! It shall come to pass 
in the good years, that ye shall give the fifth part only 
unto Pharaoh. 

[The Egyptians are attentive] 

Sebni. What doth he say? 
Dedefre. We are redeemed! 

[The Egyptians interru^-t him with wild shouts] 

Atha. Thou hast saved our lives ! 
Dedefre. Hail, prince of life! 
Sebni. Thou hast delivered us from bondage! 
Tehuti. Hail, Deliverer! 

[All the Egyptians rush to the platform with ex- 
tended arms. The Hebrews also have risen, and 
join in the shout] 

[Enenkhet has recrossed the garden, and re- 
entered] 

All. Deliverer ! 

Steward [To Joseph] It is done. 

Reuben. He is a righteous man. 

Levi. His God is with him. 

JuDAH. He will do us no harm. 

Joseph [To the Hebrews] Behold, your asses are 
laden with food. Journey home and bring your little 
ones comfort. 

Reuben [Advancing, and handing a leathern hag to 
the Steward] My lord, here is the money. 

[All the Hebrews advance] 

Judah. Farewell, great prince! 

[All make obeisance] 

146 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph. I drink to your safe journey. My cup ? 

Enenkhet. The cup is lost, my lord! 
All [With horror] Lost — ! 

[Instinctively the Hebrews gather in a knot] 

Enenkhet [To them] Wherefore have ye rewarded 
evil for good.^ Ye have stolen the cup! 

[With an exclamation of horror the Hebrews surge 
down to R. front] 

Egyptians [Furious] Ha! Dogs! 

AsENATH [Frightened] Husband ! 

Joseph [Calmly] Let be. 

Reuben [Stepping forward] Wherefore saith my 
lord these words .f* God forbid thy servants should do 
this thing! 

Egyptians. Strike them down! 

Levi. The money which we found in our sacks' 
mouths we brought again unto thee; how then should 
we steal out of thine house silver or gold.^* 

Gad. Moreover, we have not moved. 

[Cries of assent from the Hebrews] 

Enenkhet [Indicating the Egyptians] Ay! in the 
turmoil these lords made? 

Egyptians. Slay them! Slay them! 

JuDAH [Hotly] With whomsoever of thy servants it 
be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's 
bondmen ! 

[Assent from the Brethren. Laughter from the 
Egyptians. The asses of the Hebrews stand in 
the garden, laden, and with Slaves attending 
them^ 

147 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Joseph [Gravely] Let it be according unto your 
words. [To Enenkhet, who is at the entrance] Search. 

[Enenkhet and the Servants open the sacks] 

Joseph. Begin with the eldest. He with whom it is 
found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. 

Simeon [Caressing his knife] She was right! It is 
the plot! Oh! that I could reach him! 

[A silence. All watch the search. The Brethren 

lean forward in intense excitement] 
[Enenkhet suddenly holds up the cup] 

All. The cup! 

Enenkhet. In the sack of the youngest. 

Brethren [With a cry of agony] Benjamin! [They 
cover their faces] 

Levi. It is Joseph's blood crying for 
atonement. [[Almost 

IssACHAR. Therefore is this distress come [together] 
upon us ! J 

Egyptians. Slay them! Slay them! 

Joseph [Very gravely] What deed is this that ye 
have done? [Sternly] Wot ye not that such a man as 
I am can certainly divine? 

Reuben [His voice broken with sobs] What shall 
we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? Or how 
shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the in- 
iquity of thy servants: [Very humbly] behold^ we are 
my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the 
cup is found. 

Joseph. God forbid that I should do so; but the 
man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my 

servant 

148 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Brethren [In a horrified whisper among themselves] 
Benj amin ! 

Joseph. And as for you — get ye up in peace unto 
your father 

Brethren [As above] To Jacob — without Benja- 
min — ! 

Egyptians. Too merciful! Slay them all! 

[At a sign from Joseph the Egyptians leave the 
hall and the curtains are closed] 

[JuDAH brings Benjamin forward. He begins 
very quietly, very humbly; but as he goes on, he 
is carried away by the pathos of his own words. 
Towards the middle of his speech, Joseph veils 
his face. Asenath weeps silently] 

JuDAH. Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, 
speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger 
burn against thy servant, for thou art even as Pharaoh. 
— My lord asked his servant saying. Have ye a father, 
or a brother? And we said unto my lord. We have a 
father, an old man, and a child of his old age, and his 
brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and 
his father loveth him. And thou said'st unto thy ser- 
vants. Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine 
eyes upon him. And we said. The lad cannot leave his 
father; for if he should leave his father his father 
would die. And thou said'st unto thy servant. Except 
thy younger brother come down with you, ye shall see 
my face no more. Also thou heldest Simeon as host- 
age. And when we came up unto thy servant my 
father, we told him the words of my lord. And our 
father said. Go again, and buy a little food. And we 
said. We cannot go down; if our younger brother be 
with us^ then will we go down; for we may not see the 

149 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

man's face except our youngest brother be with us. 
And thy servant my father said. Ye know that my wife 
bare me two sons: and the one went out from me, and I 
said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not 
since. And if ye take this also from me, and mischief 
befall him, ye shall bring down my grey hairs with 
sorrow to the grave. Now, therefore, when I come to 
my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his 
life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, 
when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will 
die: and thy servant shall bring down the grey hairs of 
thy servant my father with sorrow to the grave. For 
thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, 
saying. If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear 
the blame to my father forever. Now, therefore, I 
pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a 
bondman to my lord: and let the lad go up with his 
brethren. [With extreme agony] For how shall I go 
up to my father, and the lad be not with me ? lest perad- 
venture I see the evil that shall come to my father. 

[JuDAH falls prone, with outstretched arms before 
Joseph. The Brethren also are prostrate, all 
hut Simeon, who remains standing, fingering his 
knife, AsENATH makes a gesture of appeal] 

[Simeon suddenly bursts through the knot of 
Brethren, brandishing his knife] 

Simeon. Vengeance ! Vengeance ! 
Brethren [With horror] Simeon! 

[They hold him. Uproar] 

Joseph [On the step, removing his cloak from his 
face, which is now radiant, and speaking with the ut- 
most sim.plicity] Peace ! — I am Joseph ! 

150 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

Brethren [Starting bach and huddling together, 
amazed] Joseph ! 

Joseph [As above] Doth my father yet live? 

[The Brethren are stricken with terror. They 
can utter no sound] 

Joseph. Fear not. Shall I judge you? Am I in 
the place of God? [He throws open his robe. He is 
clad in a shepherd's dress similar to the one he wore in 
Acts I and II. The Brethren begin to recognize him, 
but are all the more panic-stricken] 

Joseph [Holding out his arms, affectionately] Come 
near unto me. [They do not stir; he speaks with ex- 
treme yearning] I pray you! — I am Joseph, your 
brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 

Simeon [With a cry of agony] Joseph! Joseph! 
[He throws himself at Joseph^s feet] 

[The Brethren burst into wild cries, sobs, hyster- 
ical laughter, as they surge towards Joseph and 
hurl themselves in a confused mass before him] 

Joseph [Coming down amongst them, while they em- 
brace his knees, kiss his garments and his feet, reach 
up to him and touch him] Be not grieved or angry with 
yourselves that ye sold me hither; for God did send me 
before you to preserve life, and to preserve you a pos- 
terity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great 
deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me 
hither, but God. [He lifts Benjamin to his heart] O 
Benjamin! My brother! My brother! 

[With cries of "Joseph!" — "Brother!'' all the 
Brethren crowd round to embrace him. But 
Simeon stands apart in despair — he is thinking 
of slaying himself with his own knife] 
151 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 
Joseph [Crossing to him] Simeon- 



SiMEON [Breaking into sobs] Thou knowest not ! — 
Thou knowest not 

Joseph [Putting his arm round his shoulder] I know. 
[Laughing] Did she not speak truth? Was I not hold- 
ing Joseph in hiding? 

Simeon [Falling into Joseph's arms] Oh! my 
brother ! 

Joseph. Summon all the people! Let them rejoice 
with me. 

[Asenath opens door, L. 2. Immediately all the 
doors and the curtains are opened; the Egyptian 
Nobles and all Joseph's household stream in, 
excitedly. Asenath meanwhile comes down with 
the two boys, and Joseph shows them to his 
Brethren, who make obeisance to Asenath, 
embrace the boys, etc.] 

Joseph [To the Crowd] Behold! These are my 
brethren from the Land of Canaan. Shew them like 
honour as ye shew unto me! 

[Exchange of greetings] 

Reuben. Now must we hasten to Canaan to tell our 
father the great news. 

Joseph. Nay, but ye shall abide here, and send for 
your wives and your little ones; for the good of all the 
land of Egypt is yours. 

JuDAH. Our father yearneth for Benjamin — and 
for thee also he hath grieved all the years that thou 
wast lost. 

[A great shout goes up outside] 

Joseph. Throw wide the gates! 
152 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

[All the enclosure at the back is removed. The 
gardens are full of an excited throng. Through 
the crowd comes a procession of Canaanites^ 
Men, Women and Children, rvith, in their 
midst, Jacob, borne on a litter high on the shoul- 
ders of eight bearers] 

[Joseph awaits the entrance of the litter, with 
Manasseh on his left hand and Ephraim on his 
right. Asenath stands a little behind, all with 
their backs to the audience] 

[The Brethren, at the sight of Jacob, have cried: 
''Jacob! Our father! Israel!"* and have made 
room for Joseph and his group to stand alone] 

[The litter is set down, and is so built that when 
it is on the ground Jacob is very nearly upright] 

[The Crowd form a great semi-circle round the 
central group] 

Joseph. Great Israel! Behold thy son! [He rushes 
to his father's arms] 

Jacob. Now let me die, since I have seen thy face! 
[He rises, with outstretched arms, inspired] Joseph is 
a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the 
wall; the archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at 
him, and persecuted him; but his bough abode in 
strength and the arms of his hands were made strong, 
by the Hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, even by the 
God of thy father, who shall help thee, and by the Al- 
mighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven 
above, blessings of the deep that coucheth beneath, 
blessings of the breast and of the womb. The blessings 
of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my 
progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting 

153 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 

hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the 
crown of the head of him that was separate from his 
brethren. 

[All stretch their arms out to him in the soft after- 
glow of the sunset] 

Joseph. He raiseth the poor from the dust; from the 
depths He lifteth up the needy. Oh, Lord of Hosts, 
happy is the man who trusteth in Thee! 



Curtain 



154 



SEP 23 1918 



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